# Exploring cyclic di-nucleotide signaling across the tree of life (Supplement)

> **NIH NIH R35** · MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY · 2024 · $34,246

## Abstract

I am requesting support for the purchase of an Agilent BioTek LogPhase 600 microbiology plate reader through
Notice NOT-GM-24-021 under the parent grant R35 GM139537-01, “Exploring cyclic di-nucleotide signaling
across the tree of life”. This equipment allows for simultaneous quantification of the optical density at 600 nm
(OD600) of bacteria in four 96-well plates. The LogPhase 600 will be used to measure bacterial growth curves,
which is one of the most common and fundamental phenotypes assayed in a microbiology laboratory is
measuring growth kinetics by tracking optical density, usually at a wavelength of 600 nm (OD600), over time. A
growth curve can yield the growth rate of bacteria, their lag time at the initiation of the culture, when they enter
stationary phase and stop growing, and the maximum yield of the population. Such values are fundamental in
understanding the overall physiology of bacterial cells. We also use such growth curves to study the interaction
of bacteria with their cognate viruses known as phage. When phage infects a bacterial population, it leads to
lysis of the bacterial cells, which can be measured by a drop in the OD600. To survive the onslaught of phage that
bacteria encounter in the natural world, they have evolved a myriad of molecular defense systems. Some of
these systems, like restriction enzymes and CRISPR, have been studied for decades and are now fundamental
molecular tools for modifying and manipulating DNA. However, over the last ~10 years, a wide range of diverse
defense systems has been described, including three from my lab, resulting in several publications since the
start of the R35. A major bottleneck for this research is access to a plate reader that can track OD600 over time
in a high-throughput fashion. I chose the Agilent BioTek LogPhase 600 microbiology plate reader as it is a simple
device that does one thing well-measure OD600 over time in 96-well plates. The most exciting part about this
piece of equipment is that it can analyze four plates simultaneously. This allows up to four members of my lab
to perform growth curves or phage infection studies at the same time, or one member to do multiple replicates
of one experiment. Having access to the LogPhase 600 would significantly advance the progress of research in
my lab, and at a cost of only $34,245.70, it is a relatively low-cost piece of equipment that will be give a large
“bang for the buck”. The investment in this equipment by the NIH would greatly enhance the return on my R35
GM139537-01 award.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 11096792
- **Project number:** 3R35GM139537-04S1
- **Recipient organization:** MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** CHRISTOPHER M WATERS
- **Activity code:** R35 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $34,246
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2021-01-01 → 2025-12-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/11096792

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 11096792, Exploring cyclic di-nucleotide signaling across the tree of life (Supplement) (3R35GM139537-04S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/11096792. Licensed CC0.

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