EAGER-Collaborative: Exploring the feasibility of TIRF-based sensors for oceanographic research applications.

PI建议通过实施称为全内反射荧光（TIRF）的传感器技术来解决开发用于海洋学工作的小型，低功耗，高灵敏度分子生物学工具的困难。TIRF提供快速、灵敏、同时和具有成本效益的多个生化靶标的检测，只需最少的样品制备。 这项EAGER提案寻求资金，以探索修改MBio Diagnostics，Inc.开发的现有技术的可行性，由盒和读取器系统组成，以便实现更小的形状因子、增加的样本容量或两者。这种改进的TIRF技术将被设计为与AUV样本采集/处理模块集成，该模块将提供正在进行的生物数据生成，以支持海洋学应用。更广泛的影响：TIRF传感器是几种新兴技术之一，通过提供在分子水平上进行交互式实验和远程测试假设的能力，有望改变海洋科学。它有可能提供真实的或接近真实的时间数据，不仅揭示物种？这些生物的存在和丰度，以及生物化学和分子水平上的代谢和生理状态，可以提供新的见解，了解随着条件的变化，种群如何在原地对其环境作出反应。该项目将继续与英国和爱尔兰建立国际合作。它将包括4名本科生和3名研究生在美国和爱尔兰的参与。将在贝尔法斯特组织一次讲习班，并将这些发展经验作为诊断学硕士在线模块的一部分（亚利桑那大学）。

The PIs propose to address the difficulty of developing a small, low power, highly sensitive molecular biology tool for oceanographic work with the novel implementation of a sensor technology known as Total Internal Reflection Fluorescence (TIRF). The TIRF provides rapid, sensitive, simultaneous, and cost-effective detection of multiple biochemical targets with minimal sample preparation. This EAGER proposal seeks funding to explore the feasibility of modifying an existing technology developed by MBio Diagnostics, Inc., consisting of a cartridge and reader system in order to achieve either a smaller form factor, an increased sample capacity, or both. This modified TIRF technology will be designed for integration with an AUV-based sample acquisition/processing module that will provide for underway generation of biological data in support of oceanographic applications.Broader Impacts:The TIRF-based sensor is one of several emerging technologies that promise to transform ocean science by providing the ability to carry out interactive experiments and test hypotheses remotely at the molecular level. It has the potential for providing real or near-real time data revealing not only species? presence and abundance, but also the metabolic and physiological status of those organisms at the biochemical and molecular levels, can provide new insights into how populations are responding in situ to their environment over time as conditions change. This project will continue to build international collaborations with the UK and Ireland. It will include 4 undergraduate and 3 graduate student participation in both the US and Ireland. A workshop will be organized in Belfast as well as using these development experiences as part of an on-line module for a Masters in Diagnostics (University Arizona).