Provision of a MALDI-MSI Platform for Biomedical Analytical Imaging

质谱仪(MS)是一种强大的分析技术，广泛用于从大量材料中识别化合物，研究生物分子并将其与功能联系起来。我们经常比较样本，以了解正常和患病或治疗情况之间的差异，例如，健康组织与感染了自然发生的病原体(例如细菌或病毒)的组织之间的比较。了解对感染的分子反应是实施治疗的关键。为了进行MS实验，通常将细菌或细胞等样本作为一个整体进行分解，并提取化合物进行分析。虽然这种方法在识别存在的分子方面非常敏感，但它失去了化合物的空间位置；它们在不同地区可能分布不同。质谱学成像(MSI)是一种允许跨表面表征生物分子的技术。激光在样品表面的一个非常小的区域发射，从该位置产生带电分子(称为离子)，这些分子由质谱仪进行分析。样品被轻轻地移动，激光再次发射。通过这种方式，我们可以检测到表面上的分析物，并建立图像地图。这将使我们能够将生物分子的位置与功能联系起来，并将是对现有设备的极大改进。我们建议使用该设备开展与MRC研究组合和优先事项相一致的项目，主题包括抗菌素耐药性、免疫和生命过程中的感染，以及神经退行性变，以支持现有的MRC项目和计划的MRC提交。该项目还将支持研究技术专业人员的发展。

Mass spectrometry (MS) is a powerful analytical technique that is widely used to identify compounds from a vast array of materials and to study biological molecules and relate them to function. Frequently we compare samples to understand the differences between normal and diseased or treated conditions, for example healthy tissue compared with tissue infected with a naturally occurring pathogen, for example bacteria or a virus. Understanding the molecular responses to infection are key to implementing treatments.To carry out MS experiments, samples such as bacteria or cells are normally broken down as a whole and compounds extracted for analysis. Whilst extremely sensitive at identifying the molecules present, this method loses the spatial location of the compounds; they may be distributed differently in different areas.Mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) is a technique that allows characterisation of biological molecules across surfaces. A laser is fired at a very small area on the surface of a sample to generate charged molecules (called ions) from that position, and these are analysed by the mass spectrometer. The sample is moved very slightly, and the laser fired again. In this way we can detected analytes across the surface and build up an image-map. This will allow us to relate the position of biological molecules to function and will be a great improvement on the equipment already available to us.We propose to use this equipment undertake projects aligned with MRC research portfolio and priorities in themes such as antimicrobial resistance, immunity and infection through the life course, and neurodegeneration supporting existing MRC projects and planned MRC submissions. The project will also support the development of research technical professionals.