FSML: ESTABLISHING A MODERN MOLECULAR DIAGNOSTICS FACILITY TO SUPPORT MICROBIOLOGY RESEARCH IN THE SIERRA NEVADA ECOREGION

定量实时聚合酶链式反应(QPCR)等分子诊断方法在环境生物学中越来越重要，包括用于病原体检测和水质评估。这些方法的应用往往因无法获得必要的设备和仪器而受到阻碍，特别是在偏远地区。加利福尼亚州的内华达山脉是世界上保护最好的山脉之一，但仍然受到一系列环境挑战的影响，包括水质受损。尽管分子诊断将极大地促进对这些问题的研究并使其得以补救，但该地区不存在这样的设施。该项目将在位于内华达山脉中部的加州大学内华达山脉水产研究实验室(SNARL)开发一个分子诊断设施。这一设施将极大地增强snarl的研究能力。它还将产生更广泛的积极影响，包括使几个对内华达山脉拥有管辖权的土地和资源管理机构(国家公园管理局、加利福尼亚州鱼类和野生动物部、加利福尼亚州水资源控制委员会)受益，这些机构对分子诊断的需求近年来显著增加。该设施还将扩大使用snarl的现有本科课程提供的教学和培训机会，并促进新课程的开发，包括那些增加居住在当地和南加州的代表不足群体的学生参与度的课程。拟议中的设施还提供了一个机会来开发针对高中生、大学生和普通公众的公民科学项目，包括调查直接影响当地社区的水质问题的项目。该项目的目标是在snarl现有的微生物实验室基础上增加一个分子诊断设施。这将包括一个定量聚合酶链式反应系统、大容量高压灭菌器、生物安全柜、高通量组织匀浆机和微型离心机。拟议的设施将设在2010-2011年彻底翻修和现代化的主实验室大楼内。对拟议设施的需要源于对当前和预期的未来研究方向的仔细考虑，对可能的SNAR改进和它们将受益的项目的分析，以及与SNAR用户和加州大学管理团队的充分协商。这一新设施将极大地扩大snarl的研究能力，包括目前主要用于细菌培养的现有微生物学实验室，并提供内华达山脉东部难以获得或无法获得的关键研究相关设备。内华达山脉水产研究实验室网站：http://vesr.nrs.ucsb.edu/

Molecular diagnostics methods such as quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) are increasingly important in environmental biology, including for the detection of pathogens and water quality assessment. Application of these methods is often hindered by access to the necessary equipment and instrumentation, especially in remote areas. California's Sierra Nevada is one of the best protected mountain ranges in the world, but nonetheless is affected by a host of environmental challenges, including impaired water quality. Although molecular diagnostics would greatly facilitate research on these problems and enable their remediation, no such facility exists in the area. This project will develop a molecular diagnostics facility at the University of California's Sierra Nevada Aquatic Research Laboratory (SNARL), located in the central Sierra Nevada. This facility will substantially enhance the research capabilities of SNARL. It will also have broader positive effects, including benefitting several land and resource management agencies with jurisdiction over the Sierra Nevada (National Park Service, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, California State Water Resources Control Board) whose need for molecular diagnostics has increased markedly in recent years. The facility will also expand teaching and training opportunities provided by existing undergraduate courses that use SNARL and facilitate the development of new courses, including those that increase engagement of students from the large populations of underrepresented groups that reside both locally and in southern California. The proposed facility also provides an opportunity to develop 'citizen science' projects aimed at high school students, college students, and the general public, including projects investigating water quality issues that directly impact local communities.The goal of this project is to add a molecular diagnostics facility to the existing microbiology laboratory at SNARL. This will include a qPCR system, large-capacity autoclave, biological safety cabinet, high-throughput tissue homogenizer, and micro-centrifuge. The proposed facility will be housed in the main laboratory building that was completely renovated and modernized in 2010-2011. The need for the proposed facility derived from a careful consideration of current and anticipated future research directions, an analysis of potential SNARL improvements and the projects they would benefit, and thorough consultation with SNARL users and the University of California management team. This new facility will dramatically expand the research capabilities of SNARL, including of the existing microbiology laboratory that is currently used primarily for bacterial culturing, and make available key research-related equipment that is either difficult to access or unavailable in the eastern Sierra Nevada. Sierra Nevada Aquatic Research Laboratory web site: http://vesr.nrs.ucsb.edu/