Microbore binary gradient HPLC system

我的研究项目的中心主题是了解昆虫神经系统的功能，并建立神经系统的组成部分相互沟通以产生适当的生理和行为输出的机制。我们正在确定我们开发的模型系统中使用的各种神经活性物质（胺和肽）之间的相互作用。许多生物活性神经肽被分成家族，并且这些家族可能代表相互作用以调节行为的功能单元。因此，一系列复杂的事件导致行为行为的开始和维持，这些事件使动物能够过渡到一个新的行为状态。该提案是一个微孔二元梯度HPLC系统，这将使我们能够分析神经组织的肽能含量，从而对控制我们模型系统中存在的生理过程的神经肽进行测序。特别是，我们研究了Rhodnius prolixus，一种吸血昆虫，是恰加斯病的载体。在吸血之后，昆虫通过利尿过程消除多余的水和盐，并且在这种排泄期间，寄生虫被传播给人类。我们对鉴定控制这种利尿作用的神经肽很感兴趣。 与胺协同工作的神经肽家族非常适合协调与共同行为相关的完全不同的生理事件。我们的模型制备测试这些断言，因此识别感兴趣的天然神经肽是必不可少的。

The central theme of my research program is to understand the functioning of the insect nervous system, and to establish the mechanisms by which the components of the nervous system communicate with one another to produce appropriate physiological and behavioural outputs. We are identifying the interactions between the diverse neuroactive substances (amines and peptides) which are used in the model systems we have developed. Many of the bioactive neuropeptides are grouped into families and it is possible that these families may represent functional units that interact to modulate behaviour. Thus, a complex cascade of events leads to the initiation and maintenance of a behavioural act, events that allow the animal to undergo a transition into a new behavioural state. The proposal is for a Microbore Binary Gradient HPLC System that will allow us to analyze the peptidergic content of nervous tissue leading to the sequencing of the neuropeptides that control the physiological processes that are present in our model systems. In particular, we work on Rhodnius prolixus, a blood-gorging insect that is the vector for Chagas' disease. Following a blood meal the insect eliminates the excess water and salts by a process of diuresis and it is during this excretion that the parasite is transmitted to the human. We are interested in identifying the neuropeptides that control this diuresis.   Families of neuropeptides, working in concert with amines, are ideally suited to coordinate quite disparate physiological events associated with a common behaviour. Our model preparations test these assertions, and so it is essential to identify the native neuropeptides of interest.