Performing Department
(N/A)
Non Technical Summary
We will provide access to equipment required to support the identification of diverse novel microbial natural products. In particular, we will acquire a high-resolution mass spectrometer with a quadrupole analyzer (Thermo Fisher Orbitrap Exploris 240), providing the capability for untargetted mass spectrometry and natural product discovery. We will enable participation of UW-Madison microbiologists in chemical characterization and novel compound discovery by providing ready access to expertise (in place) and shared equipment (this proposal). Although UW-Madison has strength in mass spectrometry, these faculty members are highly sought after collaborators without bandwidth for additional projects, and the mass spectrometry instruments on campus are fully subscribed and/or not suited for the high-resolution discovery mode we focus on. We anticipate use by dozens of UW Madison PIs, with identification of unique small molecules synthesized by microbes that play key roles in agriculturally important interactions among microbes, between microbes and plants, and between microbes and animals. These molecules promote the health of soil and mediate communications that allow healthy plant growth and animal production. We anticipate the characterization of valuable antibacterial and antifungal compounds as well. Thus, our work directly supports USDA Strategic Goals 2 (Ensure America's Agricultural System is Resilient) and 4 (Provide All Americans Safe, Nutritious Food) as well as Priorities 3 (Bolstering Nutrition Security and Health), 4 (Cultivating Resilient Ecosystems) and 5 (Translating Research into Action). Enhanced PhD student and postdoc training in a high-value technique, and increase peer-reviewed publications and interdisciplinary grant funding will result from this award.
Animal Health Component
20%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
80%
Applied
20%
Developmental
0%
Goals / Objectives
1. We will purchase and install a Thermo Scientific Orbitrap Exploris 240 benchtop mass spectrometer, coupled to the Vanquish Horizon Ultra High Pressure Liquid Chromatography (UHPLC) System. This flexible system provides remarkable mass resolution of up to 240,000 at m/z of 200 at a 1.5 Hz scan rate by combining a quadrupole, an ion routing multipole and an Orbitrap analyzer for high resolution accurate mass (HRAM) analysis, with and without fragmentation.2. The new USDA-funded instrument will facilitate difficult fractionation, mass spec protocol optimizations, data collection and structure determination for small molecule natural products. This access will accelerate research for groups who currently do not have access to such a resource and will provide innovative new directions for microbiology research programs at UW-Madison who are not yet involved in natural product structure determinations.
Project Methods
1. A full-time highly skilled and experienced research scientist, Dr. Shagufta Perveen, will serve as a collaborator to solve structures for many microbiologists on campus.2. Instrument data collection will be prioritized for members of the Bacteriology Department, trainers of the Microbiology Doctoral Training Program, and other microbiologists at UW-Madison, in that order.3. Milestones include: a) set up of physical space and administrative structure for financing in iLab b) delivery of UHPLC-MS instrument c) Installation of the UHPLC-MS instrument d) commencement of operations e) commencement of Hub user operations f) publications which include data from this instrument.