MRI-RUI: Acquisition of a Spinning confocal Microscope to Advance Interdepartmental Research and Training at Missouri State University-Springfield

该奖项是根据2009年美国复苏和再投资法案（公法111-5）资助的，已授予密苏里州州立大学（MSU）一笔赠款，用于购买配备横河旋转共聚焦扫描仪和四条激光线的激光旋转共聚焦荧光显微镜，用于大学和该地区的研究和教学。该仪器不仅可以使研究人员在显微成像中实现显着提高的质量，而且还可以为他们提供执行先进技术的机会，如光漂白后荧光恢复（FRAP），荧光共振能量转移（FRET），标本的光学切片和双通道实时成像。所有的参与者，包括PI和合作PI代表教师谁，尽管不同的研究兴趣，拥有在他们所采用的方法和仪器的共性部门间组。研究活动的可预见的成果包括跨学科研究，培训和合作的进步。这个新系统将为研究人员提供令人兴奋的机会，以追求几个最新的研究途径，包括：1）揭示类动力蛋白在内吞作用中的作用，2）表征白细胞介素-10下游的抗炎信号传导网络，3）揭示ATAF 1在植物对白粉病病原体的抗性中的作用，4）理解肌动蛋白细胞骨架重组在葡萄藤对白粉病病原体的防御反应中的作用，5）监测碳纳米管在细胞中的递送，6）监测基于导电聚合物纳米线的荧光生物传感器，7）研究神经元-神经胶质细胞通信，8）研究来自淡水溪流的生物膜中的粪大肠杆菌生长，以及9）在分子水平上研究P2核苷酸受体功能。在大学和该地区的多个教室环境中使用共聚焦显微镜将扩大该仪器的影响。该仪器的培训将被纳入我们五个学术部门的课程，无论是传统课程还是学生独立研究。 获得旋转共聚焦系统将影响密歇根州立大学社区的许多方面。一个直接的结果将是扩大主要用户和学生的调查能力。因此，在几个部门的教师将更好地定位（一）通过会议演示和同行评审的出版物的方式为科学界做出贡献，（二）竞争外部研究资金。在MSU提高研究形象将有助于招聘和留住高素质的教师和学生。此外，拟议系统的建立将扩大与当地大学的跨学科合作。总的来说，在这些领域取得更大的成功将增加学生的研究机会，提高该地区本科和研究生教育的质量。这一工具的可用性也将大大有助于当地社区的外联方案，以教育家庭和激励年轻人追求科学和工程事业。 研究项目的成果将通过学生和教师在区域或国家会议上的演讲，在同行评审的期刊出版物和互联网上进行交流。

This award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5).A grant has been awarded to Missouri State University (MSU) to acquire a laser spinning confocal fluorescence microscope equipped with a Yokogawa spinning confocal scanner and four laser lines for research and teaching at the university and in the region. This instrument will not only allow researchers to achieve significantly improved quality in microscopic imaging but will also afford them the opportunity to perform advanced techniques such as fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP), fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET), optical sectioning of specimens, and dual-channel real-time imaging. All participants including the PI and Co-PIs represent an interdepartmental group of faculty who, despite diverse research interests, possess commonalities in their employed approaches and instrumentation. Foreseeable outcomes from the research activities include advancement of interdisciplinary research, training, and collaboration. This new system will offer researchers the exciting opportunity to pursue several up to date research avenues including: 1) uncovering the roles of dynamin-like proteins in endocytosis, 2) characterizing anti-inflammatory signaling networks downstream of interleukin-10, 3) revealing the role of ATAF1 in plant resistance to powdery mildew pathogens, 4) understanding the role of actin cytoskeleton reorganization during the defense responses by grapevine to powdery mildew pathogens, 5) monitoring the delivery of carbon nanotubes in cells, 6) monitoring fluorescent biosensors based on conducting polymer nanowires, 7) studying neuron-glial cell communication, 8) investigating fecal coliform growth in biofilms derived from freshwater streams, and 9) studying P2 nucleotide receptor function at the molecular level. Employment of the confocal microscopy in multiple classroom settings at the university and in the region will broaden the impact of the instrument. Training with the instrument will be incorporated into the curriculums for five of our academic departments, both in traditional classes and student independent research. Acquisition of the spinning confocal system will impact many facets of the MSU community and beyond. An immediate outcome will be the expanded investigative capacity of the major users and students. As a result, faculty in several departments will be better positioned to (i) contribute to the scientific community by way of conference presentations and peer-reviewed publications and (ii) compete for external research funding. A heightened research profile at MSU will aid in the recruitment and retention of high-quality faculty and students. Furthermore, the establishment of the proposed system will broaden interdisciplinary collaboration with local universities. Collectively, greater success in these areas will increase student research opportunities and heighten the quality of undergraduate and graduate education in the region. The availability of this instrument will also contribute greatly towards the outreach programs in the local community to educate families and motivate young people to pursue careers in science and engineering. Outcomes of the research projects will be communicated through presentations by students and faculty at regional or national meetings, in peer reviewed journal publications, and on the internet.