Replacement quantitative real-time PCR detection system for studies in parasitology, animal physiology and environmental toxicology

该RTI申请用于购买新的定量实时PCR（qPCR）检测系统，以取代合作科学研究大楼（CSRB）内不再能够进行qPCR分析的两个缺陷系统。我们研究团队中的HQP使用qPCR测定来确定寄生节肢动物中细菌物种的存在和相对丰度（即，由PI Chilton监督的5名博士生中的4名），以及调节肝脏和鳃中代谢反应的基因的相对表达，以及暴露于污染物和未暴露的鱼之间大脑中的神经内分泌信号传导（即，由PI Niyogi监督的5名博士生中的3名）。这些研究代表了我们NSERC资助的研究计划的重要组成部分，这些研究计划涉及影响蜱虫和其他寄生节肢动物分布和丰度的生态和进化因素（PI Chilton），以及淡水鱼中微量金属的相互作用（PI Niyogi）。这项工作很重要，因为气候变化和人类活动正在改变环境条件，日益威胁到自然鱼类种群的健康和生存，并扩大了病原体节肢动物媒介的地理范围，导致动物疾病的风险增加。鉴于qPCR在生物学科中的广泛适用性，CSRB中至少有六名同事的HQP也需要使用qPCR检测系统进行研究。不幸的是，CSRB中两个老化系统的光学模块的机械/电气问题意味着它们目前不能用于定量PCR。这个问题迫使我们的5名博士生（2名由PI Chilton监督，3名由PI Niyogi监督）在其他建筑物中使用qPCR检测系统。然而，这不是一个实际的或可持续的长期解决方案，因为我们的学生对这些设备的访问有限，因为HQP在其他研究单位对这些系统的需求很高。这种限制导致我们学生的研究进展出现重大时间延迟，并严重阻碍了他们在NSE领域的职业发展。购买替代qPCR检测系统，这是基础设施的一个重要组成部分，将大大促进研究生和其他HQP（例如，PDF文件，技术人员和本科生实习生）的研究团队的两个PI。这也将大大加强获得新的研究资金的机会，并提高代表不同群体的新生的招聘和培训质量，他们将使用qPCR来研究寄生虫学，动物生理学，水生毒理学和其他生物学领域令人兴奋的新的重要问题。

This RTI application is for funds to purchase a new quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) detection system to replace two defective systems within the Collaborative Science Research Building (CSRB) that are no longer capable of performing qPCR analyses. HQP in our research teams use qPCR assays to determine the presence and relative abundance of bacterial species in parasitic arthropods (i.e., by 4 of 5 PhD students supervised by PI Chilton), and the relative expression of genes that regulate the metabolic responses in the liver and gills, and neuro-endocrine signalling in the brain between contaminant-exposed and unexposed fish (i.e., by 3 of 5 PhD students supervised by PI Niyogi). These studies represent vital components of our NSERC-funded research programs on the ecological and evolutionary factors influencing the distribution and abundance of ticks and other parasitic arthropods (PI Chilton), and the interactive effects of trace metals in freshwater fish (PI Niyogi). This work is important because climatic change and anthropogenic activities are altering environment conditions which increasingly threaten the health and sustenance of natural fish populations, and the expansion of the geographical ranges of arthropod vectors of pathogenic agents, resulting in an increased risk of animal disease. Given the broad applicability of qPCR across biological disciplines, the HQP of at least six of our colleagues in the CSRB also require access to a qPCR detection system for their studies. Unfortunately, mechanical/electrical problems with the optical modules of the two aging systems in the CSRB, mean that they are currently not usable for quantitative PCR. This problem forced 5 of our PhD students (2 supervised by PI Chilton and 3 supervised by PI Niyogi) to use qPCR detection systems in other buildings. However, this is not a practical or sustainable long-term solution because our students have limited access to this equipment due to the high demand for these systems by HQP within those other research units. This limitation has resulted in significant time delays in the research progress of our students and a major impediment to the advancement of their careers in NSE fields. Acquisition of a replacement qPCR detection system, an essential piece of infrastructure, will greatly advance the research work of graduate students and other HQP (e.g., PDFs, technicians, and undergraduate student trainees) in the research teams of the two PIs. This will also significantly strengthen opportunities to obtain new research funding and enhance the recruitment and quality of training of new students representing a diverse group of individuals who would use qPCR to investigate exciting new and important questions in parasitology, animal physiology, aquatic toxicology and other fields in biology.