Research is conducted in the Medical Science Building (MSB) and the Laboratory of Molecular Biology (LMB). The LMB was designed so that research with highly infectious agents could be safely conducted. It is a free-standing, high containment laboratory, built according to NIH standards for a Biosafety Level-3 research unit. The Medical Science Building has laboratories and classrooms to accommodate both medical and graduate students.
All laboratories in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology are equipped with state-of-the-art instrumentation needed to carry out competitive research programs. The departmental equipment is complemented by the core facilities provided by the College of Medicine. These include the Flow Cytometry Laboratory, the Biopolymer Laboratory, Mass Spectrometry Laboratory, Primate Research Laboratory, Electron Microscopy Center, Learning Resources, and the Computer Center.
The Flow Cytometry Laboratory is available to support student and faculty research. A Becton Dickinson FACS 440 flow cytometer provides our users with several capabilities including simultaneous, three-color analysis of cell surface markers and additional potential for DNA analysis. This instrument is a five-parameter, dual laser-dye laser flow cytometer together with a single-cell deposition unit, a Digital Micro VAX II computer, and additional software for enhanced data analysis and presentation. This combination of lasers includes a 5-watt argon laser for two-color analysis, a %-watt argon/ultraviolet laser to be used in DNA analysis, and a dye laser for the excitation of a third stain in simultaneous three-color analyses. The flow cytometer provides modern typing capability for lymphocytes and tumor cells. An ACAS system consisting of an inverted fluorescence microscope with a laser excitation source is available for analysis and clonal isolation of attached cells. The ACAS is also designed for use as a confocal microscope with digital imaging and 3-dimensional image reconstruction capabilities.
A core facility for biotechnological research is available to provide research tools in molecular biology. Technical training is provided to students and faculty for the effective use of the facility. DNA oligonucleotide synthesis is accomplished with a Beckman Oligo 1000M oligonucleotide synthesizer, and is usually available within one to two days of ordering. DNA sequencing is carried out on an Applied Biosystems DNA sequencer Model 370A. It is a complete system composed of an electrophoresis and detection unit with hardware and software for data display.
Protein sequencing is performed by an Applied Biosystems protein sequencer Model 473A. This protein sequencer combines in one single system all the sequencing capabilities such as pulsed liquid or gas-phase chemistry, microgradient PTH amino acid analysis, and computer data handling. Peptides are synthesized on an Applied Biosystems synthesizer Model 431A. The instrument is specially designed for Fmoc chemistry and yields adequate amounts of material for epitope mapping, antisera pro duction, and biorecognition studies.
The Mass Spectrometry Laboratory is avail able for use by students and faculty. This laboratory provides assistance in solving biomedical and bioanalytical problems and technical training of students and faculty for effective use of the facility. Two instruments are available, both of which are interfaced to a gas chromatograph and a liquid chromatograph.
This is a facility designed specifically to house a large primate breeding colony to provide the university with an innovative and functional research resource for studies using non-human primates.
This center for research in cell ultrastructure contains both transmission and scanning electron microscopes. In addition to these basic items for preparing and viewing speci mens by transmission and scanning electron microscopy, the center contains a well equipped darkroom. The director and staff members are available to assist students and faculty in research projects involving electron microscopy.
The Learning Resources Center is a completely staffed audio-visual unit with professional photographers, a professional artist, electronics technicians, video camera operators, consultants, and support staff. An electronics shop is available for repair of laboratory equipment and to provide assistance in the design and construction of special research equipment as needed.
The basic science departments have person al computers for data and word processing for student use. The Department of Microbiology and Immunology is fully equipped with modern microcomputers and all labs are equipped with either PC- or MAC-based computers. Reference retrieval, gene-bank and protein-bank databases, word processing, and graphics software are in use. All departmental computers are linked to a common network for access to the University's mainframe computing facility as well as to the Internet. The College of Medicine has a staff of programmers and a professional comput er scientist to consult with students and faculty regarding efficient data processing and analysis.
The Biomedical Library has two branches - one on the main campus and the other at the medical center. The medical center branch houses the current monograph and clinical periodical materials, while the campus branch houses the basic sciences materials. The Biomedical Library participates in the south eastern Regional Medical Library Program, the Biomedical Communications Network, and is an institutional member of the Medical Library Association.
The main campus Biomedical Library, newly housed in the Alpha complex adjacent to the Medical Sciences Building, currently has over 77,500 volumes of books and bound journals, along with current subscriptions to 2,500 scientific journals. The resources of other medical libraries are provided through an interlibrary loan network that utilizes a national electronic mail system.
Specialized reference works such as Index Medicus, the Excerpta medica, Science Citation Index, current catalog of the National Library of Medicine, Current Contents, International Catalogue of Scientific Literature, Unlisted Drugs, and the Medline/Silver Platter Database are maintained in their entirety to support the graduate program. The computerized reference services of the National Library of Medicine are available also. Additional on-line databases in biology, chemistry, education and physics are available through Bibliographic Retrieval Services, Inc. We are currently in the process of making these services available on-line to be used by faculty and students on their own lab or office computers. Several IBM PC XTs equipped with printers are also available at each location of the Biomedical Library to allow users to conduct their own literature searches, if they desire. When using Medline/Silver Platter, a printed copy of the retrieved references can be made, along with downloading to a diskette.