Progress 09/01/21 to 08/31/23
Outputs
Target Audience:The outcome of the research enabled by the acquisition of the Gerstel GC/MS system through this grant hasbeen initially and immediately relevant and of interest to audiences within the research communities of the plant science, biochemistry, textile science, entomology, genetics, plant pathology, soil science, microbiology, and food science. Upon the installation of the Gerstel GC/MS system in early 2022 research projects in the listed areas have begun to utilize this new technology or have initiated new experiments that will now utilize this technology. Results of respective research projects and the gained knowledge have already been communicated to research communities via presentations at scientific conferences, have been included in grant proposals, and havebeenincluded into a first manuscripts that has already been published and additional manuscripts in preparation that will be submitted for publication in respective discipline research journals. In the long run, however, the knowledge gained, and the new protocols, strategies and products developed within these various research projects will also target and benefit audiences beyond the research communities. Since the PI/CoPIs and collaborators are fully committed to WVU's land grant mission and thus consider it essential to make the outcomes of research enabled by the obtained instrument also available to the general public, farmers and other stakeholders through outreach activities. Towards this goal we have teamed up with members of the WVU Extension Service for respective outreach activities such as the WVU Cider School and the WV Master Gardener Conference, as well as with the WVU Reed College of Media for some interviews to make the findings of our research available to a broader audience, and to inform and train farmers and stakeholders about new practical applications of our research. In addition, the technology, knowledge and research available and enabled by the acquisition of the Gerstel GC/MS system through this grant hasbeen immediately relevant to students and classes at WVU. A first group of graduate students hasreceivedtraining in this new technology which will be an integral part of their thesis projects. In addition, a few undergraduate students have received some training in utilizing the new technology for their independent study and research projects. Moreover, utilization of the new Gerstel GC/MS system has also been included in the curriculum of the PLSC593 - 'Analytical Instrumentation' class as wellas the redesigned curriculum of the WVU Graduate Program in Genetics and Developmental Biology for which a respective proposal has been re-submitted to the NSF Research Traineeship (NRT) program. Changes/Problems:Some delays in the implementation of the proposed objectives were caused by Covid-related restrictions that were still in place in Fall 2021 and in 2022 at WVU. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?1) In 2022 the lab technician Paige Bragg and Dr. Gutensohn (PI) attended a 3-day hands-on training course at the US headquater of Gerstelto learn more about specific features and protocols concerning the new GC/MS system. In 2023Dr. Gutensohn (PI) was invited to a 1-day workshopat the US headquater of Gerstelwhich also included hands-on demonstrations. 2) Other CoPIs and collaborators as well asgraduate students from these labs have been trained in the utilization of the Gerstel GC/MS system and technology (as needed for their respective research projects) by Paigge Bragg, Dr. Gutensohn or Dr. Lynch (who previously had already received training through Gerstel). 3) Dr. Lynch has integrated the use of the Gerstel GC/MS and associated sample collection and preparation technologies into the curriculum of his graduate level PLSC593 class 'Analytical Instrumentation' which he offered in Fall 2022 and Fall 2023. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?1) Some results of research projects utilizing the Gerstel GC/MS system and technology have already been communicated to research communities via presentations at scientific conferences includingAnnual Meeting of the Phytochemical Society of North America (PSNA), Annual Meeting of the Midwest Section of the American Society of Plant Biologists (ASPB), Annual Meeting of the Entomological Society of America (ESA). 2) The results of one project, studying the interaction of the invasive plant glossy buckthorn and insects, led by Dr. Yong-Lak Park and Dr. Gutensohn that hadutilizedthe Gerstel GC/MS system and technology have been published as manuscript in 2023 (Greenleaf et al. (2023),Arthropods associated with invasive Frangula alnus (Rosales: Rhamnaceae): Implications for invasive plant and insect management. Insects 14, 913). Several other manuscripts that will include results from analysesutilizing the Gerstel GC/MS system and technology are currently in preparation and will be submitted for publication in respective scientificjournals in the near future. 3) Other results that have been obtained byutilizing the Gerstel GC/MS system and technology have beenincluded as preliminary data in grant proposals that have been submitted to various funding agencies and are currently under review. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Objective 1: The Gerstel GC/MS system was ordered in Fall 2021, delivered and installed in the Analytical Biochemistry Core (ABC) Lab in the Agricultural Sciences Building at West Virginia University in January 2022, and is operational and available to users since March 2022. Objective 2: The lab technician Paige Bragg (newly hired in Fall 2021) as well as Dr. Gutensohn (PI) and Dr. Lynch received a first technical training already during the installation of the Gerstel GC/MS system in the ABC lab at WVU. In August 2022 the lab technician Paige Bragg and Dr. Gutensohn attended a 3-day hands-on training course at the US headquater of Gerstelto learn more about specific features and protocols concerning the new GC/MS system. Dr. Lynch had received this hands-on training at the Gerstel headsquater already previously. Over the last two years Paige Bragg hasreceivedadditional virtual training and technical support by Gersteltechnicians as needed. In 2023 Dr. Gutensohn was re-invited to a one-day workshop at the Gerstel headquater which also included further hands-on technical demonstrations.This initial and follow-up training subsequently allowedthe technician Paige Bragg,Dr. Gutensohn and Dr. Lynchto train CoPIs and other collaborators, as well asgraduate students in their labs in the utilization of the Gerstel GC/MS system and technology as needed for respective research projects. Objective 3: Over the last two years asignificant number of the PI/CoPIs and collaborators have started to implement the use of the Gerstel GC/MS system and technology into ongoing and new research projects. This includes research projects from a number ofdifferent disciplines such as: Plant Science & Biochemistry: analysis of flower and leaf volatiles (Gutensohn), analysis of flavor profiles in hard cider (Gutensohn), analysis of flavor profiles of herbs and microgreens under different storage conditions (Verlinden), influence of climate change scenarios on volatile traits (Waterland), analysis of aromatic amino acid biosynthesis in plants (Lynch) Entomology: chemical communication in insect-plant interactions (Park), chemical communication in insect-fungal interactions (Kijimoto, Kasson), influence of gut microbiota on pheromone production in tsetse flies (Rio) Food & Animal Science: detection of food borne pathogens through volatiles (Jaczynski, Matak),flavor profile of hamderived from pigs under different feeding regimes (Barnes) The growing usage and interest in theGerstel GC/MS system and technologyis alsodemonstrated by the submission ofgrant proposals that contain preliminary data collected by the Gerstel GC/MS system and/or propose to use the Gerstel GC/MS technology: Gutensohn (USDA NIFA, USDA SCRI), Lynch (USDA NIFA ,NSF MCB), Lynch & Pena-Yewtukhiw (NASA Space Biology), Benedito (USDA NIFA),Park & Gutensohn (USDA NIFA), Jaczynski & Matak(USDA NIFA), Barnes (USDA NIFA). Additional grant proposals that areutilizingthe Gerstel GC/MS system/technology are currently in preparation (including the collection of respective preliminary data) and are expected tobe submitted in 2024. Another benchmark for the implementation of the Gerstel GC/MS system is the growingnumber of presentations at scientific conferences as well as of manuscriptsin preparationthat include data collected by utilizing the Gerstel GC/MS system. It is noteworthy that a first paper including datacollected by utilizing the Gerstel GC/MS system has been published in 2023 (Greenleaf J., Holásková I., Rowen E., Gutensohn M., Turcotte R., and Park Y.L. (2023). Arthropods associated with invasive Frangula alnus (Rosales: Rhamnaceae): Implications for invasive plant and insect management. Insects 14, 913). Objective 4: The use of the Gerstel GC/MS and associated sample collection and preparation technologies was integrated into the curriculum of the graduate level PLSC593 class 'Analytical Instrumentation' that was offeredin Fall 2022 and 2023 by Dr. Lynch. In the future this class will be also integrated into the revised curriculum of the Genetics and Developmental Biology Graduate Program at WVU. In this context a group of WVU faculty from the Davis College of Agriculture, the Department of Biology, and the WVU Health Sciences has submitted a proposal (currently under review) to the NSF Graduate Research Traineeship (NRT) program in an effort to redesign the Genetics and Developmental Biology Graduate Program and integrate data sciences. Part of this proposal is to offer a number of hands-on classes to introduce graduate students to highthroughput analytical life science technologies such as those offered by the Gerstel GC/MS system. Likewise, the curriculum committee for the intercollegiate undergraduate Biochemistry program at WVU is currently developing plans for a new 400-level biochemistry class withan associated lab section which will introduce undergraduate students to various analytical techniques including the Gerstel GC/MS system. Moreover, a number of undergraduate students enrolled in independent study, research, and capstone classes have and are currently utilizing theGerstel GC/MS system. Due to delays caused by Covid related restrictions the use of theGerstel GC/MS system has not yet been implemented into activities for middle- and high-school students, however, during a recent FFA event that was hosted by the Davis College at WVU the PI and CoPIs had the opportunity to discuss respective plans with a number of teachers. Objective 5: Our efforts to make the Gerstel GC/MS system and technology available to other users through collaboration with the WVU Shared Research Facilities (SRF) have been delayed due to severalchanges in personnel at the SRF. However, the PI and CoPIs have personally reached out to collaborators and scientistsat WVU and other universities and research institutions to make them aware of the availability of theGerstel GC/MS system and technology at the WVU ABC lab. These efforts have already resulted in the recruitment of new users from WVU (i.e. Dr. Rio, Biology) and Utah State University (Dr. Borghi, Biology).
Publications
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2023
Citation:
Greenleaf J., Hol�skov� I., Rowen E., Gutensohn M., Turcotte R., and Park Y.L. (2023). Arthropods associated with invasive Frangula alnus (Rosales: Rhamnaceae): Implications for invasive plant and insect management. Insects 14, 913.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2023
Citation:
Tressler M., Bulatovic-Danilovich M., and Gutensohn M. (2023). Analysis of Flavor Compounds in Table, Crab and Cider Apples Used for the Production of Hard Cider. Annual ASPB Midwest Section Meeting 2023, Iowa State University, Poster Presentation
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2023
Citation:
Smith T., and Lynch J.H. (2023). Testing of a metabolic engineering strategy in plants. Annual ASPB Midwest Section Meeting 2023, Iowa State University, Poster Presentation
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Progress 09/01/21 to 08/31/22
Outputs
Target Audience:The outcome of the research enabled by the acquisition of the Gerstel GC/MS system through this grantwill be initially and immediately relevant and of interest to audiences within the research communities of the plant science, biochemistry, textile science, entomology, genetics, plant pathology, soil science, microbiology, and food science. Upon the installation of the Gerstel GC/MS system in early 2022 research projects in the listed areas have begun to utilize this new technology or have initiated new experiments that will now utilize this technology. Firstresults of respective research projects and the gained knowledge have alreadybeen communicated to research communities via presentations at scientific conferences, have been included in grant proposals and are currently being included into manuscripts that will be submitted for publication in respective discipline research journals. In the long run, however, the knowledge gained, and the new protocols, strategies and products developed within these various research projects will also target and benefit audiences beyond the research communities. Since the PI/CoPIs and collaborators are fully committed to WVU's land grant mission and thus consider it essential to make the outcomes of research enabled by the obtained instrument also available to the general public, farmers and other stakeholders through outreach activities. Towards this goal we have teamed up with members of the WVU Extension Service for respective outreach activities such as the WVU Cider School andthe WV Master Gardener Conference, as well as with the WVU Reed College of Media for some interviewsto make the findings of our research available to a broader audience, and to inform and train farmers and stakeholders about new practical applications of our research. In addition,the technology, knowledge and research available and enabled by the acquisition of the Gerstel GC/MS system through this grantwill be immediately relevant to students and classes at WVU. A first group of graduate students is currently receiving training in this new technology which will be an integral part of their thesis projects. Moreover, utilization of the new Gerstel GC/MS system has also been included in the curriculum of the PLSC593 -'Analytical Instrumentation' class as well as the redesign of the WVU Graduate Program in Genetics and Developmental Biology for which a respective proposal has been submitted to the NSF Research Traineeship (NRT) program. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?1) The lab technician Paige Bragg and Dr. Gutensohn attended a 3-day hands-on training course at the US headquater of GERSTEL to learn more about specific features and protocols concerning the new GC/MS system. 2) Other CoPIs/collaborators and a first cohort ofgraduate students are currently being trained in the utilization of theGerstel GC/MS system and technology as needed for their respective research projects. 3)Dr. Lynch has integrated the use of the Gerstel GC/MS and associated sample collection and preparation technologies into the curriculum of his graduate level PLSC593 class 'Analytical Instrumentation'. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Firstresults of research projects utilizing theGerstel GC/MS system and technology have alreadybeen communicated to research communities via presentations at scientific conferences, have been included in grant proposals and are currently being included into manuscripts that will be submitted for publication in respective discipline research journals. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?In early 2023 the PI/CoPIs will meet with representatives oftheWVU Shared Research Facilities to discuss the next steps to make the Gerstel GC/MS technology also available to other internal WVU users as well as additional external users.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Objective 1: The Gerstel GC/MS system was ordered in Fall 2021 and was delivered and installed in the Analytical Biochemistry Core (ABC) Lab in the Agricultural Sciences Building at West Virginia University in January 2022. Objective 2: The lab technician Paige Bragg (newly hired in Fall 2021) as well as Dr. Gutensohn (PI) and Dr. Lynch received a first technical training already during the installation of theGerstel GC/MS system in the ABC lab at WVU. In August 2022 the lab technician Paige Bragg and Dr. Gutensohn attended a 3-day hands-on training course at the US headquater of GERSTEL to learn more about specific features and protocols concerning the new GC/MS system. Since then Paige Bragg is receiving additional virtual training and technical support by GERSTEL technicians as needed. This now allows to train CoPIs/collaborators and their graduate students in the utilization of theGerstel GC/MS system and technology as needed for their respective research projects. Objective 3: A significant number of the PI/CoPIs and collaborators have started to implement the use of the Gerstel GC/MS system and technology into ongoing and new research projects. This is for example demonstrated by the submission of several grant proposals that containpreliminary data collected by the Gerstel GC/MS system and propose to use the Gerstel GC/MS technology: Lynch (USDA NIFA - recommended for funding, NSF - pending);Matak,Jaczynski & Gutensohn (USDA NIFA - pending). Additional grant proposals that plan to utilize theGerstel GC/MS system/technology are currently in preparation (including collection of respective preliminary data) and will be submitted in 2023. Likewise, a number of manuscripts are in preparation that include data collected by utilizing theGerstel GC/MS system and will be submitted for publication in 2023. Objective 4: The use of the Gerstel GC/MS and associated sample collection and preparation technologies was integrated into the curriculum of thegraduate level PLSC593 class 'Analytical Instrumentation' that was offered for the first time in Fall 2022 by Dr. Lynch. Moreover, a group of WVU faculty (Dr. Benedito, Dr. Gutensohn (PI), Dr. Tou, Dr. Hawkins, Dr. Martinez) has submitted a proposal (GeneAI - INTEGRATING DATASETS WITH AI TO REVEAL NOVEL, HIDDEN PATTERNS IN GENETICS AND SYSTEMS BIOLOGY) to the NSF NRT program in an effort to redesign the Gnetics and Developmental Biology Graduate Program at WVU. Part of this proposal is to offer a number of hands-on classes to introduce graduate students to highthroughput analytical life science technologies such as offered by theGerstel GC/MS system.
Publications
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2022
Citation:
Michael Gutensohn, 'Apple Tree Characteristics for Cider', WVU Cider School, June 1, 2022.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2022
Citation:
Joseph Lynch, 'New evidence for an old idea: revisiting the Dual Pathway Hypothesis of aromatic amino acid biosynthesis in plants', Annual Meeting of the Phytochemical Society of North America, July 24-28, 2022
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