[email protected] afm in marine...
TRANSCRIPT
Massimo VassalliInstitute of Biophysics
National Research CouncilGenova – Italy
WG4 meetingCOST action TD1002European network on
applications of Atomic Force Microscopy to NanoMedicine
and Life Sciences
AFM in marine biology
Why AFM in marine biology ?
Approximately 70% of Earth's surface is covered with water, of which 97% is salt water ; 50% to 80% of all species on Earth lives in the oceans ; due to their depth oceans encompass about 300 times the habitable volume of the terrestrial habitats on Earth.
AFM in marine biology
Search on Google Scholar for:
● AFM & biology → 61.700 results● AFM & “molecular biology” → 16.600 results● AFM & “marine biology” → 532 results
Applications
Marine bio-FoulingHarmful algae bloomsOcean acidification
Why and where is AFM crucial ?
Model organism
Green and Red morphotypes (different
intermoult stage duration)
Carcinus maenas (Green crab)
Surface parameters
Kerr, A. and M. J. Cowling (2003). The effects of surface topography on the accumulation of biofouling. Philosophical Magazine 83 (24): 2779-2795.
AFM is unique in which it is quantitative on a nanometer scale
Harmful algae blooms
Ranging from microscopic, single-celled organisms to large seaweeds, algae are simple plants that form the base of food webs. Sometimes, however, their roles are much more sinister. A small percentage of algal species produce toxins that can kill fish, mammals, and birds, and may cause human illness.
Source: ocean service of the US national oceanic and atmospheric administration
Ostreopsis ovataRecently, Ostreopsis spp. blooms in the Tyrrhenian and southern Adriatic Sea have been related to human health problems, such as breathing and skin irritation.
Report
Bloom
Toxic event
Lovely AFM
Once more, AFM helps measuring objects because it is quantitative, but also the sample can be prepared with low invasiveness
Coccolithophores
Coccolithophores are single-celled algae distinguished by special calcium carbonate plates of uncertain function called coccoliths (calcareous nanoplankton), which are important microfossils. An example of a globally significant coccolithophore is Emiliania huxleyi, with a global distribution from the tropics to subarctic waters, forming a part of the planktonic base of virtually all marine food webs.
Effects of low pH on coccoliths
Calcium carbonate structures are influenced by the acidification of the solution and in vitro experiments show even strong effects on the morphology of single coccoliths.
But Ocean acidification is not simply low pH
M. Debora Iglesias-Rodriguez, et al., Phytoplankton Calcification in a High-CO2
World; Science 320, 336 (2008)
V. Fabry, Marine calcifiers in a High-CO2 Ocean; Science 320, 1021 (2008)
And what about AFM ?
Compositional imaging on single coccoliths (elasticity mapping)
Direct measurement of the mass of single coccoliths
AFM as a pico-balance
T. Hassenkam, A. Johnsson, et al. ; Tracking single coccolith dissolution with picogram resolution and implications for CO2 sequestration and ocean acidification ; PNAS 320, 336 (2008)
I'm happy
AFM helps measuring objects because it is quantitative and the sample can be prepared with low invasiveness. In addition, it measure forces, thus opening for compositional imaging and other exotic applications.
Marine biology is a field in which AFM can exploit its specialties!
COST Action TD 1002www.afm4nanomedbio.eu
COST Action TD 0906www.cost-bioadhesives.org
Workshop dedicated toEDUCATION
Practical school onAFM in Biology
A focus on marine biology
(14) 15-16 April 2013 16-19 April 2013
Local organizersMassimo VassalliFrancesca Sbrana
COST inspirersVesna Svetlicic
Alessandro Podestà
Education workshop(14) 15-16 April 2013
14/04/2012arrival in the evening & dinner
15/04/2012Morning sessionLunchAfternoon sessionDinner & social event
16/04/2012Morning sessionLunch & relocation to Genova
Education workshop
Open for proposals ofideas for teaching
and spreading AFMin biomedicine
Education workshop
Educational AFM
Could it be useful to start populating a database of AFM-oriented educational movies ?
- lessons- experimental methods and sample preparation- exploit TS to prepare video material- publication ?
Alessandro Podestà[email protected]
Education workshop
Educational AFM
Could it be useful to identify a way to provide low cost AFMs for educational purposes in biology ?
- take a survey of commercial systems- browse the literature- design or integrate a new solution
Bruno [email protected]
TS 2013 COST TD0906
TD1002
COST action TD 1002 is providing logistic support and knowledge (in terms of trainers) to COST action TD 0906 which will support the participation of EU attendees. CNR will co-fund the initiative.
Massimo [email protected]
AFM in biologya focus on marine biology
TS 201316-19 April 2013
16/04/2012Afternoon session
Theoretical lessonsDinner After-dinner discussion & poster attachment
Theory will be constrained to the first day
TS 2013
Experimental sessions will be centralBoth imaging and sample preparation
Using AFM at different length scales:Proteins → Fibers → Cells → Tissues
Students/attendees will be divided into small groups (no more than 6 persons per group) to have the possibility to really interact with the AFM and prepare samples.
17/04/2012Morning session
Experimental activityLunch
Short application notesExperimental activity
Dinner & social event
18/04/2012Morning session
Short application notesExperimental activity
LunchShort application notesExperimental activity
Dinner
TS 2013
19/04/2012Morning session
Short seminarsRecapitulation experimental session
Lunch & conclusion
