Skip to main content

In situ mesoscale imaging of biofilm dynamics using SALVI


EMSL Project ID
48654

Abstract

Understanding how metabolic pathways are interconnected and controlled at the subcellular scale within living systems with coexisting macromolecules in a cell that has complex structure, dynamics, and response is a grand scientific challenge. Fundamental investigations of microbial organisms undergoing interfacial chemistry demand observations of surface complexation, redox reactions, and electron or ion transfer across different time and space scales. Innovative experimental approaches are needed to provide observations at the mesoscale. This research uses SALVI, a vacuum compatible multimodal microfluidic platform, to conduct integrative analysis of communication among biological subcellular components and multicellular organisms at scales ranging from molecular to ecosystem levels. In situ correlative imaging of ToF-SIMS, SEM, NMR, and super resolution fluorescence microscopy will be used to probe model biofilm-forming microorganisms such as Shewanella and Geobacter. Computational simulation will be employed to understand how microscale fluxes and molecular transport impact the observed phenomena on the macroscale. These results will provide dynamic multiscale understanding of diverse microbial phenomic parameters from living systems and underpin integrative predications of dynamic cellular processes and interactions of real-world environments.

Project Details

Start Date
2014-11-18
End Date
2015-09-30
Status
Closed

Team

Principal Investigator

Xiao-Ying Yu
Institution
Oak Ridge National Laboratory

Co-Investigator(s)

Matthew Marshall
Institution
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Team Members

Jennifer Yao
Institution
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Abigail Tucker
Institution
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Bingwen Liu
Institution
Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory

William Chrisler
Institution
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory