Development of video atomic force microscopy for in vivo bioimaging of biological processes

对生物实体进行成像的能力对科学的许多关键发展至关重要。原子力显微镜允许可视化的活细胞和系统没有标签，在真实的时间，具有良好的空间和时间分辨率。然而，为了使该技术广泛适用于高通量和动态研究，该技术的缺点是图像捕获所花费的时间。我们处于VideoAFM开发的最前沿，这将使成像速度提高1000倍。这将彻底改变该技术在许多生物应用中的使用。这一独特的项目将把技术开发与解决微生物细胞表面领域的真实的生物学问题完全结合起来。特别是，我们将研究主要病原体金黄色葡萄球菌的表面特性，这使得它能够成功地与人类宿主相互作用。研究人员和该技术的商业制造商之间的直接合作将使实际成果在短时间内转化为真实的产品。因此，该项目将克服现有的局限性，为生物科学提供广泛有用的技术，这将通过项目期间进行的应用来举例说明。

The ability to image biological entities is crucial to many key developments in science. Atomic force microscopy allows visualisation of living cells and systems without labels, in real time, with good spatial and temporal resolution. However a drawback of this technology, in order for it to be widely applicable to be used in high-throughput and for study of dynamics, is the time taken for image capture. We are at the forefront of development of VideoAFM, which will increase the speed of imaging by 1000 fold. This will revolutionise the use of the technology in many biological applications. This unique project will fully integrate technology development with addressing real biological problems in the area of microbial cell surfaces. In particular we will examine the surface properties of the major pathogen Staphylococcus aureus, which allow it to interact so successfully with its human host. A direct collaboration between the investigators and a commercial manufacturer of the technology will allow practical outcomes to be converted into real products within a short timespan. Thus the project will overcome existing limitations to give a widely useful technology for biological science, which will be exemplified by the applications carried out during the project.