Acquisition of a combined AFM/light microscope for research and education

描述(由申请人提供)：我们建议购买一台SAVERA Research MFP-3D原子力显微镜(AFM)，它具有高分辨率的力光谱和扫描能力，集成到尼康TI-E荧光显微镜中，用于AFM/显微镜组合仪器。这台MFP-3D/尼康仪器可以施加皮牛顿和纳米牛顿之间的校准作用力，这一作用力范围与许多生物过程相关。与我们目前的独立非成像MFP-1D AFM仪器不同，MFP-3D/尼康组合仪器既可用于成像应用，也可用于非成像应用。MFP-3D/尼康仪器将直接支持NIH最近资助的一系列应用。这些应用包括(1)Wirtz博士的小组(1R01GM084204)对Lmna基因致病突变引起的细胞力学缺陷的机制研究，(2)Konstantopoulos博士的小组(5R01CA101135)对癌症转移中选择素介导的细胞-细胞黏附的生物物理研究，(3)Ostermeier博士的小组(5R01GM066972)对覆盖着工程细菌细胞的表面的高分辨率成像，(4)孙博士的小组(5R01GM075305)关于细胞骨架蛋白在控制细菌细胞形状和调节细胞分裂中的机械作用的生物物理研究，以及(5)Wirtz博士团队(1R21CA13789)对钙粘蛋白介导的细胞-细胞黏附的单分子力谱研究。这个组合的仪器将被放置在约翰·霍普金斯大学霍姆伍德校区NEB大楼的纳米生物技术研究所(INBT)一个800平方英尺的最先进的设施中。这一核心设施在向INBT研究界提供卓越的成像服务、为生物和医学应用提供非常受欢迎的纳米科学和工程实验室课程以及参与大规模外展工作方面有着突出的记录。将AFM/显微镜组合放置在由D.Wirtz指导的INBT纳米生物实验室中，将极大地提高NIH资助的四个主要用户和其他用户在咨询委员会监督下的高效和平衡使用。INBT将为仪器的维护提供支持，将提供实验室空间，并将为 设施管理、用户日程安排和财务报告。 公共卫生相关性：所要求的MFP-3D/尼康仪器将用于广泛的对人类疾病具有重要意义的生物医学项目，包括癌症、椎板病以及细菌和病毒感染。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): We propose to acquire an Asylum Research MFP-3D atomic force microscope (AFM), which has high- resolution force spectroscopy and scanning capabilities, integrated into a Nikon TI-E epifluorescence microscope for a combined AFM/microscope instrument. This MFP-3D/Nikon instrument can apply calibrated forces ranging between pico- and nano-newton, a force range relevant to many biological processes. Unlike our current stand-alone non-imaging MFP-1D AFM instrument, the combined MFP-3D/Nikon instrument allows for both imaging and non-imaging applications. The MFP-3D/Nikon instrument will directly support a wide range of applications that have recently been funded by the NIH. These applications include (1) Mechanistic studies of the defects in cell mechanics induced by disease-causing mutations in the Lmna gene by Dr. Wirtz's group (1R01GM084204), (2) Biophysical studies of selectin-mediated cell-cell adhesion in cancer metastasis by Dr. Konstantopoulos' group (5R01CA101135), (3) High-resolution imaging of surfaces covered with engineered bacterial cells by Dr. Ostermeier's group 5R01GM066972), (4) Biophysical studies of the mechanical role of cytoskeletal proteins in controlling bacterial cell shape and mediating cell division by Dr. Sun's group (5R01GM075305), as well as (5) Single-molecule force spectroscopy studies of cadherin- mediated cell-cell adhesion by Dr. Wirtz group (1R21CA13789). This combined instrument will be placed in an 800 sq ft state-of-the-art facility NanoBio Lab of the Institute for NanoBioTechnology (INBT) in the NEB Building at the Johns Hopkins University Homewood campus. This core facility has a demonstrated outstanding record of providing excellent imaging service to the INBT research community, offering highly popular laboratory courses in nanoscale science and engineering for applications in biology and medicine, and participating in large-scale outreach efforts. Housing the combined AFM/microscope in the INBT NanoBio Lab directed by D. Wirtz will greatly enhance its efficient and balanced use by the four primary NIH- funded users and other users under the supervision of an advisory committee. The INBT will provide support for the maintenance of the instrument, will offer the laboratory space, and will provide the administrative/accounting/web support for the management of the facility, scheduling of users, and financial reporting. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: The requested MFP-3D/Nikon instrument will be used in a wide range of biomedical science projects of importance to human diseases, including cancer, laminopathies, and bacterial and viral infection.