Automated high-content microscopy system

自动化高内涵显微镜系统

• 批准号: RTI-2020-00274
• 负责人: Rourke, Jillian
• 金额: $ 9.07万
• 依托单位: Mount Allison University
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Research Tools and Instruments
• 财政年份: 2019
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2019-01-01 至 2020-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=693364
• 关键词: Automated; content; microscopy; system

This request for instrumentation is from three NSERC-funded researchers from Mount Allison University who study the function of cells across biologically diverse species including marine bacteria and phytoplankton, ticks, companion and agricultural animals, wildlife species, and humans. Although diverse in their applications, these researchers have in common a focus on increasing our understanding of the complex physiological processes that occur in cells in their natural environment and following exposure to environmental stressors.******This application is for a state-of-the-art microscope with environmental controls that will allow the researchers to tightly control the environment in which the cells grow while permitting the simultaneous capture of high-resolution images of the cells in real time. The programmable features of this automated device and its capacity to record images of both stained and unstained cells will allow the researchers to simultaneously take many different types of measurements. If a picture tells a thousand words, then this detailed imaging approach to measuring changes in cell function will provide unparalleled access into the complex cellular controls under study.******One of the research labs will use these cutting-edge techniques to identify how human cells sense nutrients in their environment and the impact these nutrients have on cell metabolism, growth, and function. These studies focus on a large family of cell surface receptorsG protein-coupled receptorsthat act as molecular receivers to detect changes in the cellular environment in the form of sugars, fats, and proteins, and translate these signals into the necessary molecular responses to maintain healthy cells. Another researcher will use this instrument to study the physiology of ecologically important phytoplankton species to increase our understanding of how these vital organisms convert light and CO2 into oxygen and energy (primary production), the critical role they play in ocean food webs, and the impact of the environment on phytoplankton growth and resilience within ecosystems. In another lab, student trainees will use this instrument to study the complex relationships established in insect and animal cells following infection with bacteria. These studies focus on the field of epigenetics, which describes the variety of modifications to DNA that complement the instructions provided in our genetic code and greatly influence the ways in which cells function under normal and diseased conditions.******The requested infrastructure would greatly increase the capacity of these and other research programs in the region by providing us with the ability to rapidly generate and analyze biologically relevant data from cells of any organism. Funding this application will support the development of novel lines of inquiry, provide cutting-edge training to numerous highly qualified personnel, and advance both Canadian and international research across multiple disciplines.

这项仪器的申请来自Mount Allison大学的三位NSERC资助的研究人员，他们研究了生物多样性物种的细胞功能，包括海洋细菌和浮游植物，蜱虫，伴侣和农业动物，野生动物物种和人类。虽然他们的应用不同，这些研究人员有一个共同的重点是增加我们对细胞在自然环境中和暴露于环境压力后发生的复杂生理过程的理解。该应用程序是一个国家的最先进的显微镜与环境控制，将使研究人员能够严格控制环境中的细胞生长，同时允许同时捕获高分辨率图像的细胞在真实的时间。这种自动化设备的可编程功能及其记录染色和未染色细胞图像的能力将使研究人员能够同时进行许多不同类型的测量。如果一张图片告诉一千个单词，那么这种测量细胞功能变化的详细成像方法将为研究中的复杂细胞控制提供无与伦比的访问。其中一个研究实验室将使用这些尖端技术来确定人类细胞如何感知环境中的营养物质，以及这些营养物质对细胞代谢、生长和功能的影响。这些研究集中在细胞表面受体G蛋白偶联受体的一个大家族，作为分子接收器检测糖，脂肪和蛋白质形式的细胞环境的变化，并将这些信号转化为必要的分子反应以维持健康的细胞。另一位研究人员将使用该仪器来研究生态上重要的浮游植物物种的生理学，以增加我们对这些重要生物如何将光和二氧化碳转化为氧气和能量（初级生产）的理解，它们在海洋食物网中发挥的关键作用，以及环境对浮游植物生长和生态系统内恢复力的影响。在另一个实验室中，学员将使用该仪器研究细菌感染后昆虫和动物细胞中建立的复杂关系。这些研究集中在表观遗传学领域，它描述了对DNA的各种修饰，这些修饰补充了我们遗传密码中提供的指令，并极大地影响了细胞在正常和疾病条件下的功能方式。所要求的基础设施将大大提高这些和该地区其他研究项目的能力，使我们能够快速生成和分析任何生物体细胞的生物相关数据。资助这项申请将支持新的调查路线的发展，为众多高素质的人才提供尖端培训，并推动加拿大和国际跨学科的研究。