MRI: Acquisition of a Transmission Electron Microscope and Digital Imaging: Research and Research Training in an Undergraduate College Environment

纽约州立大学购买学院的简·罗伯特·法因特博士获得了一笔赠款，用于购买一台数字透射式电子显微镜(TEM)和用于数字图像处理和显微图像分析的相关设备。具体地说，将获得一台透射电子显微镜；将升级一个图像分析系统；以及一台用于制备透射电子显微镜生物样品的超微切割机和金刚石刀。瞬变电磁法及相关仪器将用于在本科院校环境中开展多个研究项目和研究培训。该设备将支持以下领域的研究项目：龙虾(Homarus Americanus)的细胞免疫防御；龙虾(Homarus Americanus)的消化组织；沙门氏菌细胞表面的特征；鲑鱼巨噬细胞对沙门氏菌的吸收和生长；脂肪酸诱导的细胞事件。1.龙虾的细胞免疫防御，Homarus americanus，Jan Robert Factor将使用荧光显微镜和数字图像分析来研究大量固定吞噬细胞从龙虾血液中清除外来颗粒，以确定不利的环境条件和人为毒素是否会导致疾病和大规模死亡。我们将用透射电子显微镜来阐明固定吞噬细胞吞噬吞噬的不寻常机制。2.龙虾的消化组织，Homarus americanus，Jan Robert Factor。了解这种在生态和经济上具有重要意义的物种的消化过程依赖于电子显微镜的观察，而进一步了解消化组织绝对需要使用透射电子显微镜。研究将检查被膜腺的细胞和组织、复杂的基底膜、结缔组织纤维和组织结构。3.沙门氏菌细胞表面特性：菌毛和p57表面蛋白。沙门氏菌是引起鲑鱼细菌性肾脏疾病的一种独特的细胞内病原体。其主要细胞表面抗原(P57)可能在发病机制中起重要作用。P57和表面菌毛可能相同，但p57抗体不能附着在菌毛上。透射电子显微镜将被用来检查细胞表面，以确定p57是否真的是菌毛，或者它们是否是独特的蛋白质。4.鲑鱼巨噬细胞对沙门氏菌的摄取和生长该项目将使用体外和体内感染的巨噬细胞来跟踪鲑鱼巨噬细胞内沙门氏菌的感染和存活。5.脂肪酸诱导的细胞事件的超微结构定位，Joanne Kivela Tillotson为了确定特定的饲料脂肪酸对细胞增殖的影响，以及脂肪酸对细胞程序性死亡的影响，将利用透射电子显微镜对生长因子和二十烷基类信号的生化途径进行定位。结合细胞培养和生化研究，这将进一步加深我们对外源因子在细胞增殖中作用的理解。该设备将显著增强Purchase学院的研究能力，并使教职员工能够进行目前无法实现的研究，对超过一半的生物学教职员工的研究产生重要影响。这项研究包括几个具有实际科学意义的领域：两类具有商业重要性的动物(美国龙虾和鲑鱼)的疾病防御和过程，以及饮食脂肪酸对细胞增殖和程序性细胞死亡的影响。本科生将在两门课程中接受必要的技能培训，提供参与教师研究项目所需的工具。所需设备还将用于鼓励学生通过各种当地学校项目追求科学事业。

A grant has been awarded to Dr. Jan Robert Factor at Purchase College, State University of New York, to acquire a digital transmission electron microscope (TEM) and related equipment for digital image processing and microscopical image analysis. Specifically, a TEM will be acquired; an image analysis system will be upgraded; as well as an ultramicrotome and diamond knife for preparing biological samples for TEM. The TEM and related instruments will be used to carry out several research projects and research training in an undergraduate college environment. This equipment will enable research projects in the areas of cellular immune defenses in the lobster (Homarus americanus); digestive tissues of the lobster (Homarus americanus); characterization of the cell surface of Renibacterium salmoninarum; uptake and growth of Renibacterium salmoninarum in trout macrophage; cellular events induced by fatty acids.The following research projects will be carried out. 1. Cellular Immune Defenses in the Lobster, Homarus americanus, Jan Robert Factor. Removal of foreign particles from the blood of the lobster by a large population of fixed phagocytes will be studied using fluorescence light microscopy and analysis of digital images, to determine if adverse environmental conditions and anthropogenic toxins cause disease and mass mortalities. TEM will be used to elucidate the unusual mechanism of phagocytic uptake by the fixed phagocytes. 2. Digestive Tissues of the Lobster, Homarus americanus, Jan Robert Factor. Understanding of digestive processes in this ecologically and economically important species has been reliant upon electron-microscopical observations, and further progress in understanding digestive tissues absolutely requires the use of transmission electron microscopy. Studies will examine cells and tissues of the tegumental glands, complex basement membranes, connective-tissue fibers, and tissue organization. 3. Characterization of the Cell Surface of Renibacterium salmoninarum: Fimbriae and p57 Surface Proteins, James G. Daly. R. salmoninarum is a unique intracellular pathogen that causes bacterial kidney disease in salmonid fishes. Its major cell surface antigen (p57) may be important to pathogenesis. p57 and surface fimbriae may be the same, however, p57 antibody fails to attach to the fimbriae. Transmission electron microscopy will be used to examine the cell surface to determine whether p57 is indeed a fimbria or whether they are distinctive proteins. 4. Uptake and Growth of Renibacterium salmoninarum in Trout Macrophage, James G. Daly. This project will use both in vitro and in vivo infected macrophages to follow the infection and survival of R. salmoninarum within trout macrophage. 5. Ultrastructural Localization of Cellular Events Induced by Fatty Acids, Joanne Kivela Tillotson. Biochemical pathways of growth factor and eicosanoid signaling will be localized by TEM in order to define the influence of specific dietary fatty acid administration upon cell proliferation, and the effects of the fatty acids on programmed cell death. Combined with cell culture and biochemical studies, this will further our understanding of the role of exogenous factors in cell proliferation. This equipment will significantly enhance the research capabilities at Purchase College and enable faculty research that is not now possible, with an important impact on the research of more than half of the Biology faculty. The research includes several areas of practical scientific significance: disease defenses and processes in two commercially important groups of animals (the American lobster and salmonid fishes), and the influence of dietary fatty acids on cell proliferation and programmed cell death. Undergraduate students will be trained in the required techniques in two courses, providing the tools needed to participate in the faculty research projects. The requested equipment will also be used to encourage students to pursue science careers through a variety of local school programs.