Automated multidimensional imaging system

自动化多维成像系统

• 批准号: RTI-2022-00017
• 负责人: Alderman, Sarah
• 金额: $ 10.93万
• 依托单位: University of Guelph
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Research Tools and Instruments
• 财政年份: 2021
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2021-01-01 至 2022-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=741864
• 关键词: Automated; multidimensional; imaging; system

The world beyond what is visible to our naked eye is beautiful and full of secrets. With microscopy, a part of that world can be unlocked so that biologists can measure, manipulate, and marvel at the building blocks of life. We are five comparative physiologists who use microscopy every day to understand the structure-function relationships that connect tissues and cells to physiological and organismal processes. Such connections are critical to building a mechanistic understanding of how animals cope with environmental stressors through phenotypic plasticity and adaptation, and these topics are at the core of our five research programs. This proposal is for a new Nikon Eclipse Ni-E compound fluorescent microscope and advanced image analysis workstation which is urgently needed to replace two obsolete and failing microscopes and associated analysis software in our labs. This versatile microscope and software upgrade will advance our imaging experiments using powerful new processing and analytical tools driven by artificial intelligence and machine learning. We will use this system to acquire high-resolution, multi-dimensional images of tissues that will accelerate our research towards: (1) defining the cellular pathways that regulate stress-induced changes to neurogenesis and the organismal consequences of their perturbation; (2) determining how endocrine factors control and mitigate adverse effects of environmental stressors; (3) characterizing the role of the extracellular matrix in regulating heart function during thermal acclimation; (4) identifying the role of neuroplasticity in matching animal phenotype with environment; and (5) connecting early-life experiences with neural development and behaviour in wild animals. The requested imaging system will complement existing equipment and allow us to integrate detailed, quantitative histological analyses with endpoints that span from molecular to organismal levels. This approach helps us build a comprehensive understanding of animal physiology and offers a rich environment for training and discovery.

我们肉眼所见之外的世界是美丽的，充满了秘密。有了显微镜，这个世界的一部分可以被解锁，这样生物学家就可以测量，操纵和惊叹于生命的构建模块。我们是五位比较生理学家，每天使用显微镜来了解组织和细胞与生理和生物过程之间的结构-功能关系。这种联系对于建立动物如何通过表型可塑性和适应性科普环境压力的机械理解至关重要，这些主题是我们五个研究项目的核心。该建议是一个新的尼康Eclipse Ni-E复合荧光显微镜和先进的图像分析工作站，迫切需要取代我们实验室中两个过时和失败的显微镜和相关的分析软件。这种多功能显微镜和软件升级将使用由人工智能和机器学习驱动的强大的新处理和分析工具来推进我们的成像实验。我们将使用该系统获取高分辨率、多维的组织图像，这将加速我们的研究：（1）定义调节应激诱导的神经发生变化的细胞途径以及其干扰的生物体后果;（2）确定内分泌因素如何控制和减轻环境压力源的不利影响;（3）表征细胞外基质在热习服期间调节心脏功能的作用：（4）鉴定神经可塑性在使动物表型与环境匹配中的作用;（5）将早期生活经验与野生动物的神经发育和行为联系起来。所要求的成像系统将补充现有的设备，并使我们能够将详细的定量组织学分析与从分子到生物体水平的终点相结合。这种方法有助于我们建立对动物生理学的全面理解，并为培训和发现提供了丰富的环境。