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Light and electron microscopes and analytical ancillary equipment like X-ray microanalysis are essential technologies for biological and non-biological materials in agricultural research. <P> For over 30 years the Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station (MAES), Academic Health Center (AHC) and College of Biological Sciences (CBS) have each supported multiple-user shared imaging core facilities. These efforts benefit basic agricultural research which relies on continued advancement and expansion of imaging infrastructure. <P> Now that the equipment and resources have merged, equipment and staff have expanded to assist users with state-of-the-art techniques in phosphorimaging, chemifluorescence, confocal, live cell and tissue imaging, hyperspectral imaging, light and electron microscopy and expert consulting. These services are made available on a fee-for-use basis to other University of Minnesota laboratories, as well as dozens of industrial research partners. Income from user fees augments the operation. <P> In the past several years these imaging technologies have been expanding research methodologies to better understand and safeguard the food supply. Applying scientific principles to the food system aids in the understanding of food production and safety issues through controls on inputs, changes to production and preparatory processes. <P> The UIC facilitates basic and multi-disciplinary applied research aimed at evaluating options for improving animal health and food safety through microscopic technologies. <P> This project revision continues MAES support funding, and ensures access to state-of-the-art equipment and staff for agricultural research.
NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY: <BR> The UIC supports basic and multi-disciplinary applied research through microscopic imaging technologies aimed at evaluating options for improving animal health and food safety. This project revision continues MAES support funding, and ensures researchers access to state-of-the-art equipment and staff in these research efforts. There have been over 2500 research and instructional posters printed. Past and current grants (NSF Cytoskeletal Training Grant, NSF Tree of Life- Fungus) relied on our facility. There were multi-day workshops that were sponsored by the Centers that trained 30+ users on pioneering technical methodologies in sample preparation. Tours to dozens of K-12 students and teachers were well received. Exhibits at the Minnesota Zoo and the Science Museum of Minnesota are based on results from staff and collaborations.
<P> APPROACH: <BR> The UIC is a collection of shared state-of-the-art core facilities for the imaging of biological specimens utilizing light microscopy; scanning and transmission electron microscopy; digital imaging analysis, visualization and printing; related to research, training and education. Since its inception, the Imaging Center has served as the premier central facility for high-end imaging for the University community. Briefly, the resources of the Imaging Center have been used in the development of new instruments and techniques; visualization of model systems including Arabidopisis, Medicago, Drosophila, yeast, C. elegans and Chlamydononas; discovery of new viruses and other microbes of plants and animals; the examination of cells and organelles in plant and animal tissue culture; biomedical device and reagent integration; experimental composition of food mixtures and dairy projects, elemental composition and morphology of soil particles and their importance in pollution-related research; the elemental composition of plants as related to practical problems in crop plant physiology and health; deterioration of textiles and forest products; various bioprocessing projects designed to lessen the environmental impact of paper and forest product production; renewable energy projects; nitrogen fixation of plants; alternatives to conventional insecticides; the adherence of pathogenic bacteria to food and food -processing surfaces; analysis of food storage materials; the identification and mapping of fungal chromosomes; and for the in situ identification of the activity of various genes of importance during genetic manipulations of vertebrate and plant cell lines. Our target audience includes participation from K-12 students and teachers; academic researchers at the university and college levels; corporate and industrial partners and governmental agencies. There have been over a dozen Masters or PhD degrees that acknowledged the facility in 2010. In the past year, 230 different projects from over a dozen units have done research using the light and electron microscopy instrumentation totaling over 4700 hours. There were over 50 publications that acknowledged the Imaging Center.