MRI: Acquisition of Flow Cytometric Analyzer for Research and Training at Howard University

流式细胞术是一个强大的平台，用于荧光测量单个颗粒，细胞或亚细胞成分中的许多参数。该NSF MRI奖为霍华德大学（HU）购买一台3激光10参数高通量流式细胞仪提供资金。整个大学范围内的无障碍仪器将显著改善许多STEM学科的研究基础设施。重要的是，该仪器将加强与生物科学交叉的多学科和跨学科领域的正在进行的研究。流式细胞仪将更好地服务于研究活动，并吸引目前使用的工具无法满足其需求的新用户。该设备将为HU研究人员提供新的机会，并为大学范围内的合作提供渠道。这将有助于加强研究基础设施，扩大生物学调查研究的广度。霍华德大学和合作机构的主要研究人员、博士后研究员、研究生和本科生研究人员将从获得的仪器中受益匪浅。校园范围内的研讨会将吸引和教育胡社区纳入高层次的研究设计和方法。此外，这些相关活动将促进妇女和代表性不足的少数民族参与STEM研究的举措。获得的流式细胞仪将成为常规多用户研究的主要工具，并将定量和定性的科学和工程方法整合在一起，以推进生物学科的知识。虽然最初用于生物医学科学，但流式细胞术的变革潜力为自然科学提供了研究活体和非活体样品特性的手段。技术和可配置性的进一步进步扩展了单细胞水平上的分析评估范围。这些进步已经将用户群从传统的细胞和分子生物学家扩展到纳米材料科学家和生物工程师。利用大量可用的荧光标记试剂，霍华德大学的研究人员将从事广泛的有价值的研究。科学家和工程师将共同测量：a)细胞周期和DNA片段；B)细胞凋亡和细胞活力，c)蛋白质、脂质和碳水化合物的差异表达；D)寄生侵入宿主细胞；E)细菌活力和计数；f)磷酸化与总蛋白含量。24名研究人员将积极使用校园范围内的多用户仪器。使用流式细胞仪，其研究的多样性、敏感性和特异性将显著增强。S多参数和高吞吐量处理应用。这些特点为霍华德大学的教师和合作研究人员提供了一个强有力的有机和无机现象的测量方法。从仪器使用中产生的科学将导致更好地理解生物基础和发展基础科学和应用科学的创新应用。

Flow cytometry is a powerful platform for fluorescence measurement of numerous parameters in individual particles, cells, or subcellular components. This NSF MRI award provides funds for the purchase of a 3 laser 10-paramter high throughput flow cytometric analyzer at Howard University (HU). The university-wide accessible instrument will markedly improve research infrastructure across many STEM disciplines. Importantly, the instrument will enhance ongoing research in multi- and interdisciplinary fields that intersect with the biological sciences. The flow cytometric analyzer will better serve research activities and attract new users whose needs cannot be met with the tools presently in use. The equipment will open new opportunities to HU investigators and provides a conduit for university-wide collaborations. This will serve to enhance research infrastructure and expand the breadth of studies employed in biological investigations. Principal investigators, post-doctoral fellows, graduate and undergraduate student researchers at Howard University and collaborating institutions will greatly benefit from the acquired instrument. Campus-wide workshops will engage and educate the HU community to incorporate upper-level research design and methods. Furthermore, these linked-activities will promote initiatives for engaging women and underrepresented minorities in STEM research. The acquired flow cytometric analyzer will become a staple in routine multi-user research studies and integrate quantitative and qualitative science and engineering approaches to advancing knowledge in biological disciplines.Although initially used for biomedical science, the transformative potential of flow cytometry has provided the natural sciences with means to study the properties of both living and non-living samples. Further advancements in technology and configurability have extended the range of analytical evaluation on a single cell level. These advances have expanded the user base from traditional cell and molecular biologists to nanomaterial scientists and bioengineers. Utilizing the vast assortment of available fluorescently-labeled reagents, Howard University researchers will engage in wide-ranging meritorious research. Scientists and engineers will collectively measure: a) cell cycle and DNA fragmentation; b) apoptosis and cell viability, c) differential expression of protein, lipids, and carbohydrates; d) presence of parasitic invasion in host cells; e) bacteria viability and enumeration; and f) phosphorylation vs. total protein content. Twenty-four (24) researchers will be active in use of the campus-wide multi-user instrument. The diversity, sensitivity, and specificity of their studies will be significantly enhanced by using the flow cytometric analyzer?s multiple parameters and high throughput processing applications. These features afford Howard University faculty and collaborating researchers a robust and powerful measure for organic and inorganic phenomena. The science generated from the instrument usage will lead to better understanding of biological underpinnings and development of innovative applications in basic and applied sciences.