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
Released Data Link
Team
Principal Investigator
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