FEBRUARY 2024

CHTP Image of the Year Contest Winner

Victoria French with her supervisor, Dr. Johan Foster

Congratulations to Victoria French, winner of the 2023 CHTP Image of the Year contest! Victoria is a PhD student in the UBC Foster Advanced Materials Group (AMG). The group’s research focuses on engineering bio-based and bio-inspired materials for various applications. Victoria’s work explores the development of materials derived from filamentous fungi for environmental remediation, emphasizing understanding the interplay between fungal morphology and material properties.

Her image represents the collaborative efforts between the Kronstad Lab and Foster AMG. The Kronstad Lab at the UBC Michael Smith Laboratories (MSL) focuses on various aspects of fungal biology, including pathogenesis and nutrient metabolism in pathogenic fungi such as Cryptococcus neoformans and Ustilago maydis.

When budding goes awry: Cryptococcus neoformans cells grown in low-iron media show abnormal budding morphology

The image displays abnormal budding of Cryptococcus neoformans cells grown in low-iron media. The sample was prepared by her collaborator Kabir Bhalla, who is currently researching the role of polyphosphate, an inorganic biopolymer, in the virulence of Cryptococcus neoformans cells and its impact on host immune responses. To prepare these cells for SEM imaging, they were chemically fixed and brought to CHTP to be dehydrated and dried using the Tousimis critical point dryer. Victoria acquired the image using the FEI Helios NanoLab 650 FIB-SEM. False colouration was applied to the image using Photoshop to emphasize the abnormal budding behaviour. A print of the image has been placed on the wall in the hallway outside the main entrance to the CHTP.

Thank you to everyone who participated in our annual image contest. All CHTP users are welcome to submit their most interesting and exciting images at the end of this year to take part in next year’s contest!

New Equipment: Plasma Cleaner

The CHTP secured funding through the VPRI Research Facility Support Grants competition to acquire a new Tergeo plasma cleaner from Pie Scientific for sample preparation.

This system removes hydrocarbon contamination on SEM samples and eliminates or reduces the appearance of darker box patterns forming on the sample during imaging, keeping our SEM chambers free from contamination. In addition, this tool allows for the treatment of TEM grids to make them hydrophilic, which helps prepare biological samples for STEM imaging. Please contact the lab staff if you want to learn how to use this system.

Guest Access to the CHTP

The CHTP has implemented an online request system for one-time visitors (who are only present to observe) to accompany users to the facility. If you would like to have a collaborator or colleague accompany you in the lab for a single analysis session, they are required to submit a guest access request to enter the lab. The online form is available on the CHTP homepage and must be completed and submitted by the visitor at least 24 hours before the intended visit.

Please note that this is for guests who will only attend one session. If your guest plans to attend multiple sessions, they must complete the access request agreement form.

Sample Pick-Up Reminder

If you have dropped off samples for technician-assisted analysis, please remember to pick them up once the analysis is complete. The CHTP does not store user samples, and your samples may be subject to disposal if not picked up in a timely manner.

Corporate Sponsors

The CHTP is grateful to the following corporate sponsors for their significant in-kind Canada Foundation for Innovation support: