Source: OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY submitted to NRP
IMPROVED MICROSCOPY SYSTEM AND LIVE CELL IMAGING: ASSESSING IMPACT OF BIOACTIVE FOOD COMPONENTS ON INFLAMMATION AND GASTROINTESTINAL HEALTH
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
COMPLETE
Funding Source
AFRI COMPETITIVE GRANT
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
1014888
Grant No.
2018-67018-27511
Cumulative Award Amt.
$50,000.00
Proposal No.
2017-06928
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Project Start Date
Mar 1, 2018
Project End Date
Feb 28, 2019
Grant Year
2018
Program Code
[A1341]- Food Safety, Nutrition, and Health: Function and Efficacy of Nutrients
Recipient Organization
OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY
(N/A)
STILLWATER,OK 74078
Performing Department
Nutritional Sciences
Non Technical Summary
The increased understanding of how nutrient metabolism proteins and bioactive food components function in the human body and digestive system can contribute towards different strategies for reducing the risks of chronic diseases. This microscopy system will provide the ability to examine at a cellular level how bioactive food components can attenuate inflammation and promote gut integrity and health. Further, there is considerable interest in examining the role that trace element (e.g., iron, zinc, and selenium) deficiencies have on cell physiology and development.
Animal Health Component
(N/A)
Research Effort Categories
Basic
100%
Applied
(N/A)
Developmental
(N/A)
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
70170101010100%
Knowledge Area
701 - Nutrient Composition of Food;

Subject Of Investigation
7010 - Biological Cell Systems;

Field Of Science
1010 - Nutrition and metabolism;
Goals / Objectives
The objective of this equipment grant will be to obtain aninvertedfluorescencemicroscope and use the microscopy system for determining how bioactive food components, micronutrients, and macronutrients may affect human health and chronic disease.
Project Methods
The equipment grant will be used to support the acquisition of an invertedfluorescencemicroscope. This equipment will allow for advanced fluorescence live cell imaging, which is necessary for the use of modern biosensitive dyes and fluorescent proteins, including FRET biosensors. This microscopy system will provide the ability to examine at a cellular level how bioactive food components can attenuate inflammation and promote gut integrity and health.This equipment will be used in research focused on bioactive food components present in foods such as dried plums, tart cherries, and mango. Further, there is considerable interest in examining the role that trace element (e.g., iron, zinc, and selenium) deficiencies have on cell physiology and development. Thus, possessing the ability to image proteins, organelles, cells, and metabolite dynamics with an advanced inverted fluorescence microscopy system would strengthen established focus areas of research in the department. In addition, the ability to conduct studies using the microscopy system will provide faculty the opportunity to work collaboratively with other investigators across different Colleges at Oklahoma State University.

Progress 03/01/18 to 02/28/19

Outputs
Target Audience:Faculty members in the Department of Nutritional Sciences and the opportunity to work collaboratively with other investigators across different Colleges at Oklahoma State University. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?In the past 8 months, 8 graduate students and 7 undergraduate students have been trained on the microscope and are applying this equipment to their research. In addition, another faculty member in an adjacent department (Design, Housing, and Merchandising) is using the microscope to demonstrate to undergraduates (class of 68 students across 3 sections) the differences between natural and synthetic fibers. The students get hands-on experience with the microscope as they place their selected textile fibers on slides for viewing. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?We have used the microscope to present data at Nutrition 2018 in Boston, MA. Morgan Strong, a graduate student mentored by the PD (Chowanadisai), used the microscope to demonstrate that loss of zinc transporter ZIP12 in live neuronal-like cells results in increased superoxide generation in mitochondria.In recognition of the top caliber of research she is performing using this state-of-the-art instrument, she was recognized as an Emerging Leaders in Nutrition Science Finalist and placed in the top 3. We anticipate that more results will be disseminated within the next 12 months as more faculty, graduate students, and undergraduate students are trained on the microscope. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? In only 8 months, we have made significant progress in training opportunities (see below) and increasing grant submissions following the purchase of the Keyence BZ-X700 grid confocal inverted microscope. Among 5 faculty members in the department, we have submitted 8 grants which propose using the microscope to determine how nutrition affects physiology at a cellular level. There are another 6 additional grants planned within the next 12 months. Research projects using the microscope include the role of zinc on neuronal development, the impact of numerous functional foods and bioactive components on gut and bone health, the importance of carotenoids on obesity and diabetes, and the significance of aflatoxin on DNA damage in white blood cells. The wide range of projects utilizing this microscope demonstrates how this instrument has improved the research infrastructure in numerous, varied ways.

Publications