High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) for interdisciplinary research

高效液相色谱（HPLC）系统将允许UOIT的跨学科研究小组分析和纯化一系列化合物，包括低分子量信号分子，细菌代谢物，肽，寡核苷酸和小干扰RNA（siRNA）。这些设备对四个研究小组的研究计划至关重要，并将为在更广泛的UOIT研究界培养研究生和高素质的研究人员提供机会。Strap研究小组一直致力于确定参与植物-微生物相互作用的关键信号分子以及微生物对生物量周转的贡献。这项研究将对加拿大农业产生积极影响，并将有助于开发用于生物溶剂生产的改良纤维素原料。此外，Strap研究小组与Kumar研究小组合作，鉴定并部分纯化了有效对抗广谱人类病原体的新型生物活性微生物化合物。为了纯化这些化合物进行结构测定，需要获得HPLC系统。这项研究将通过提供有关微生物耐药机制的新知识对加拿大社会产生重大影响，并将允许确定新的治疗靶点，以应对高度耐药的病原体。 Bonetta研究小组的目标是了解植物细胞壁合成和组装的机制。HPLC将允许通过测定壁材料的寡糖谱来表征细胞壁突变体。从这项研究中获得的见解将对塑料，纤维和燃料等细胞壁衍生产品的开发至关重要，这些产品有可能提高加拿大自然资源和环境质量的可持续性。Desaulniers研究小组正在研究新型化学修饰对siRNA稳定性和有效性的影响，以开发治疗感染的治疗药物。HPLC对于纯化新合成的修饰的siRNA用于随后的结构-功能实验是必需的。

A high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) system will allow interdisciplinary research groups at UOIT to analyze and purify a range of compounds including low molecular weight signaling molecules, bacterial metabolites, peptides, oligonucleotides and small interfering RNAs (siRNAs). The equipment is essential for the research programs of four research groups, and will provide opportunity for training graduate students and highly qualified research personnel within the broader UOIT research community. The Strap research group has been working to identify key signaling molecules involved in plant-microbe interactions as well as the microbial contribution to biomass turnover. This research will have a positive impact on Canadian agriculture and will aid in the development of improved cellulosic feedstock for use in biosolvent production. In addition, the Strap research group in collaboration with the Kumar research group has identified and partially purified novel, bioactive microbial compounds effective against a broad spectrum of human pathogens. The acquisition of an HPLC system is necessary to purify these compounds for structural determination. This research will significantly impact Canadian society by providing new knowledge about microbial resistance mechanisms and will allow for identification of new therapeutic targets to deal with highly resistant pathogens. The Bonetta research group aims to understand mechanisms that govern cell wall synthesis and assembly in plants. An HPLC will allow characterization of cell wall mutants through determination of oligosaccharide profiles of wall material. The insights gained from this research will be crucial to the development of cell wall derived products such as plastics, fibres, and fuels, which have the potential to improve the sustainability of Canada's natural resources and environmental quality. The Desaulniers research group is investigating the effect of novel chemical modifications on stability and efficacy of siRNA to develop therapeutic agents to treat infections. HPLC is necessary for purification of newly synthesized modified siRNAs for subsequent structure-function experiments.