1
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Pierce SA, Jacobelli J, Given KS, Macklin WB, Gopinath JT, Siemens ME, Restrepo D, Gibson EA. OpenSTED: open-source dynamic intensity minimum system for stimulated emission depletion microscopy. NEUROPHOTONICS 2024; 11:034311. [PMID: 38867758 PMCID: PMC11167952 DOI: 10.1117/1.nph.11.3.034311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2023] [Revised: 05/14/2024] [Accepted: 05/20/2024] [Indexed: 06/14/2024]
Abstract
Significance Stimulated emission depletion (STED) is a powerful super-resolution microscopy technique that can be used for imaging live cells. However, the high STED laser powers can cause significant photobleaching and sample damage in sensitive biological samples. The dynamic intensity minimum (DyMIN) technique turns on the STED laser only in regions of the sample where there is fluorescence signal, thus saving significant sample photobleaching. The reduction in photobleaching allows higher resolution images to be obtained and longer time-lapse imaging of live samples. A stand-alone module to perform DyMIN is not available commercially. Aim In this work, we developed an open-source design to implement three-step DyMIN on a STED microscope and demonstrated reduced photobleaching for timelapse imaging of beads, cells, and tissue. Approach The DyMIN system uses a fast multiplexer circuit and inexpensive field-programmable gate array controlled by Labview software that operates as a stand-alone module for a STED microscope. All software and circuit diagrams are freely available. Results We compared time-lapse images of bead samples using our custom DyMIN system to conventional STED and recorded a ∼ 46 % higher signal when using DyMIN after a 50-image sequence. We further demonstrated the DyMIN system for time-lapse STED imaging of live cells and brain tissue slices. Conclusions Our open-source DyMIN system is an inexpensive add-on to a conventional STED microscope that can reduce photobleaching. The system can significantly improve signal to noise for dynamic time-lapse STED imaging of live samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie A. Pierce
- University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Department of Bioengineering, Aurora, Colorado, United States
| | - Jordan Jacobelli
- University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Aurora, Colorado, United States
- University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Barbara Davis Research Center, Aurora, Colorado, United States
| | - Katherine S. Given
- University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Aurora, Colorado, United States
| | - Wendy B. Macklin
- University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Aurora, Colorado, United States
| | - Juliet T. Gopinath
- University of Colorado Boulder, Department of Electrical, Computer, and Energy Engineering, Boulder, Colorado, United States
- University of Colorado Boulder, Department of Physics, Boulder, Colorado, United States
| | - Mark E. Siemens
- University of Denver, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Denver, Colorado, United States
| | - Diego Restrepo
- University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Aurora, Colorado, United States
| | - Emily A. Gibson
- University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Department of Bioengineering, Aurora, Colorado, United States
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2
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Liu J, Tan YY, Zheng W, Wang Y, Ju LA, Su QP. Nanoscale insights into hematology: super-resolved imaging on blood cell structure, function, and pathology. J Nanobiotechnology 2024; 22:363. [PMID: 38910248 PMCID: PMC11194919 DOI: 10.1186/s12951-024-02605-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2024] [Accepted: 05/30/2024] [Indexed: 06/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Fluorescence nanoscopy, also known as super-resolution microscopy, has transcended the conventional resolution barriers and enabled visualization of biological samples at nanometric resolutions. A series of super-resolution techniques have been developed and applied to investigate the molecular distribution, organization, and interactions in blood cells, as well as the underlying mechanisms of blood-cell-associated diseases. In this review, we provide an overview of various fluorescence nanoscopy technologies, outlining their current development stage and the challenges they are facing in terms of functionality and practicality. We specifically explore how these innovations have propelled forward the analysis of thrombocytes (platelets), erythrocytes (red blood cells) and leukocytes (white blood cells), shedding light on the nanoscale arrangement of subcellular components and molecular interactions. We spotlight novel biomarkers uncovered by fluorescence nanoscopy for disease diagnosis, such as thrombocytopathies, malignancies, and infectious diseases. Furthermore, we discuss the technological hurdles and chart out prospective avenues for future research directions. This review aims to underscore the significant contributions of fluorescence nanoscopy to the field of blood cell analysis and disease diagnosis, poised to revolutionize our approach to exploring, understanding, and managing disease at the molecular level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinghan Liu
- School of Biomedical Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2007, Australia
| | - Yuping Yolanda Tan
- Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, 2006, Australia
- Heart Research Institute, Newtown, NSW, 2042, Australia
| | - Wen Zheng
- School of Biomedical Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2007, Australia
| | - Yao Wang
- School of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Sydney, Darlington, NSW, 2008, Australia
| | - Lining Arnold Ju
- School of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Sydney, Darlington, NSW, 2008, Australia
- Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, 2006, Australia
- Heart Research Institute, Newtown, NSW, 2042, Australia
| | - Qian Peter Su
- School of Biomedical Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2007, Australia.
- Heart Research Institute, Newtown, NSW, 2042, Australia.
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3
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Morano AA, Ali I, Dvorin JD. Elucidating the spatio-temporal dynamics of the Plasmodium falciparum basal complex. PLoS Pathog 2024; 20:e1012265. [PMID: 38829893 PMCID: PMC11175456 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1012265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2024] [Revised: 06/13/2024] [Accepted: 05/16/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Asexual replication of Plasmodium falciparum occurs via schizogony, wherein 16-36 daughter cells are produced within the parasite during one semi-synchronized cytokinetic event. Schizogony requires a divergent contractile ring structure known as the basal complex. Our lab has previously identified PfMyoJ (PF3D7_1229800) and PfSLACR (PF3D7_0214700) as basal complex proteins recruited midway through segmentation. Using ultrastructure expansion microscopy, we localized both proteins to a novel basal complex subcompartment. While both colocalize with the basal complex protein PfCINCH upon recruitment, they form a separate, more basal subcompartment termed the posterior cup during contraction. We also show that PfSLACR is recruited to the basal complex prior to PfMyoJ, and that both proteins are removed unevenly as segmentation concludes. Using live-cell microscopy, we show that actin dynamics are dispensable for basal complex formation, expansion, and contraction. We then show that EF-hand containing P. falciparum Centrin 2 partially localizes to this posterior cup of the basal complex and that it is essential for growth and replication, with variable defects in basal complex contraction and synchrony. Finally, we demonstrate that free intracellular calcium is necessary but not sufficient for basal complex contraction in P. falciparum. Thus, we demonstrate dynamic spatial compartmentalization of the Plasmodium falciparum basal complex, identify an additional basal complex protein, and begin to elucidate the unique mechanism of contraction utilized by P. falciparum, opening the door for further exploration of Apicomplexan cellular division.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander A. Morano
- Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Ilzat Ali
- Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Jeffrey D. Dvorin
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
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4
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Liffner B, Absalon S. Expansion microscopy of apicomplexan parasites. Mol Microbiol 2024; 121:619-635. [PMID: 37571814 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.15135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2023] [Revised: 07/15/2023] [Accepted: 07/20/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023]
Abstract
Apicomplexan parasites comprise significant pathogens of humans, livestock and wildlife, but also represent a diverse group of eukaryotes with interesting and unique cell biology. The study of cell biology in apicomplexan parasites is complicated by their small size, and historically this has required the application of cutting-edge microscopy techniques to investigate fundamental processes like mitosis or cell division in these organisms. Recently, a technique called expansion microscopy has been developed, which rather than increasing instrument resolution like most imaging modalities, physically expands a biological sample. In only a few years since its development, a derivative of expansion microscopy known as ultrastructure-expansion microscopy (U-ExM) has been widely adopted and proven extremely useful for studying cell biology of Apicomplexa. Here, we review the insights into apicomplexan cell biology that have been enabled through the use of U-ExM, with a specific focus on Plasmodium, Toxoplasma and Cryptosporidium. Further, we summarize emerging expansion microscopy modifications and modalities and forecast how these may influence the field of parasite cell biology in future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Liffner
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Sabrina Absalon
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
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5
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Balasubramanian H, Hobson CM, Chew TL, Aaron JS. Imagining the future of optical microscopy: everything, everywhere, all at once. Commun Biol 2023; 6:1096. [PMID: 37898673 PMCID: PMC10613274 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-05468-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 10/30/2023] Open
Abstract
The optical microscope has revolutionized biology since at least the 17th Century. Since then, it has progressed from a largely observational tool to a powerful bioanalytical platform. However, realizing its full potential to study live specimens is hindered by a daunting array of technical challenges. Here, we delve into the current state of live imaging to explore the barriers that must be overcome and the possibilities that lie ahead. We venture to envision a future where we can visualize and study everything, everywhere, all at once - from the intricate inner workings of a single cell to the dynamic interplay across entire organisms, and a world where scientists could access the necessary microscopy technologies anywhere.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Chad M Hobson
- Advanced Imaging Center; Howard Hughes Medical Institute Janelia Research Campus, Ashburn, VA, 20147, USA
| | - Teng-Leong Chew
- Advanced Imaging Center; Howard Hughes Medical Institute Janelia Research Campus, Ashburn, VA, 20147, USA
| | - Jesse S Aaron
- Advanced Imaging Center; Howard Hughes Medical Institute Janelia Research Campus, Ashburn, VA, 20147, USA.
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6
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Abstract
Malaria remains a significant threat to global health, and despite concerted efforts to curb the disease, malaria-related morbidity and mortality increased in recent years. Malaria is caused by unicellular eukaryotes of the genus Plasmodium, and all clinical manifestations occur during asexual proliferation of the parasite inside host erythrocytes. In the blood stage, Plasmodium proliferates through an unusual cell cycle mode called schizogony. Contrary to most studied eukaryotes, which divide by binary fission, the parasite undergoes several rounds of DNA replication and nuclear division that are not directly followed by cytokinesis, resulting in multinucleated cells. Moreover, despite sharing a common cytoplasm, these nuclei multiply asynchronously. Schizogony challenges our current models of cell cycle regulation and, at the same time, offers targets for therapeutic interventions. Over the recent years, the adaptation of advanced molecular and cell biological techniques have given us deeper insight how DNA replication, nuclear division, and cytokinesis are coordinated. Here, we review our current understanding of the chronological events that characterize the unusual cell division cycle of P. falciparum in the clinically relevant blood stage of infection.
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7
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Kehrer J, Pietsch E, Heinze J, Spielmann T, Frischknecht F. Clearing of hemozoin crystals in malaria parasites enables whole-cell STED microscopy. J Cell Sci 2023; 136:286288. [PMID: 36511329 DOI: 10.1242/jcs.260399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2022] [Accepted: 12/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Malaria is a devastating mosquito-borne parasitic disease that manifests when Plasmodium parasites replicate within red blood cells. During the development within the red blood cell, the parasite digests hemoglobin and crystalizes the otherwise toxic heme. The resulting hemozoin crystals limit imaging by STED nanoscopy owing to their high light-absorbing capacity, which leads to immediate cell destruction upon contact with the laser. Here, we establish CUBIC-P-based clearing of hemozoin crystals, enabling whole-cell STED nanoscopy of parasites within red blood cells. Hemozoin-cleared infected red blood cells could reliably be stained with antibodies, and hence proteins in the hemozoin-containing digestive vacuole membrane, as well as in secretory vesicles of gametocytes, could be imaged at high resolution. Thus, this process is a valuable tool to study and understand parasite biology and the potential molecular mechanisms mediating drug resistance. This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Kehrer
- Integrative Parasitology, Center for Integrative Infectious Diseases, Heidelberg University Medical School, Im Neuenheimer Feld 344, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany.,German Center for Infection Research, DZIF, partner site Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany.,Infectious Diseases Imaging Platform, Center for Integrative Infectious Diseases, Heidelberg University Medical School, Im Neuenheimer Feld 344, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Emma Pietsch
- Integrative Parasitology, Center for Integrative Infectious Diseases, Heidelberg University Medical School, Im Neuenheimer Feld 344, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Julia Heinze
- Integrative Parasitology, Center for Integrative Infectious Diseases, Heidelberg University Medical School, Im Neuenheimer Feld 344, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Tobias Spielmann
- Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Bernhard Nocht Str. 74, 20359 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Friedrich Frischknecht
- Integrative Parasitology, Center for Integrative Infectious Diseases, Heidelberg University Medical School, Im Neuenheimer Feld 344, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany.,German Center for Infection Research, DZIF, partner site Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
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8
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Vaisey G, Banerjee P, North AJ, Haselwandter CA, MacKinnon R. Piezo1 as a force-through-membrane sensor in red blood cells. eLife 2022; 11:e82621. [PMID: 36515266 PMCID: PMC9750178 DOI: 10.7554/elife.82621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2022] [Accepted: 12/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Piezo1 is the stretch activated Ca2+ channel in red blood cells that mediates homeostatic volume control. Here, we study the organization of Piezo1 in red blood cells using a combination of super-resolution microscopy techniques and electron microscopy. Piezo1 adopts a non-uniform distribution on the red blood cell surface, with a bias toward the biconcave 'dimple'. Trajectories of diffusing Piezo1 molecules, which exhibit confined Brownian diffusion on short timescales and hopping on long timescales, also reflect a bias toward the dimple. This bias can be explained by 'curvature coupling' between the intrinsic curvature of the Piezo dome and the curvature of the red blood cell membrane. Piezo1 does not form clusters with itself, nor does it colocalize with F-actin, Spectrin, or the Gardos channel. Thus, Piezo1 exhibits the properties of a force-through-membrane sensor of curvature and lateral tension in the red blood cell.
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Affiliation(s)
- George Vaisey
- Laboratory of Molecular Neurobiology and Biophysics, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, The Rockefeller UniversityNew YorkUnited States
| | - Priyam Banerjee
- Bio-Imaging Resource Center, The Rockefeller UniversityNew YorkUnited States
| | - Alison J North
- Bio-Imaging Resource Center, The Rockefeller UniversityNew YorkUnited States
| | - Christoph A Haselwandter
- Department of Physics and Astronomy and Department of Quantitative and Computational Biology, University of Southern CaliforniaLos AngelesUnited States
| | - Roderick MacKinnon
- Laboratory of Molecular Neurobiology and Biophysics, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, The Rockefeller UniversityNew YorkUnited States
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9
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Super-Resolution Microscopy and Their Applications in Food Materials: Beyond the Resolution Limits of Fluorescence Microscopy. FOOD BIOPROCESS TECH 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s11947-022-02883-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
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10
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Towards rainbow portable Cytophone with laser diodes for global disease diagnostics. Sci Rep 2022; 12:8671. [PMID: 35606373 PMCID: PMC9126638 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-11452-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2021] [Accepted: 04/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
In vivo, Cytophone has demonstrated the capability for the early diagnosis of cancer, infection, and cardiovascular disorders through photoacoustic detection of circulating disease markers directly in the bloodstream with an unprecedented 1,000-fold improvement in sensitivity. Nevertheless, a Cytophone with higher specificity and portability is urgently needed. Here, we introduce a novel Cytophone platform that integrates a miniature multispectral laser diode array, time-color coding, and high-speed time-resolved signal processing. Using two-color (808 nm/915 nm) laser diodes, we demonstrated spectral identification of white and red clots, melanoma cells, and hemozoin in malaria-infected erythrocytes against a blood background and artifacts. Data from a Plasmodium yoelii murine model and cultured human P. falciparum were verified in vitro with confocal photothermal and fluorescent microscopy. With these techniques, we detected infected cells within 4 h after invasion, which makes hemozoin promising as a spectrally selective marker at the earliest stages of malaria progression. Along with the findings from our previous application of Cytophone with conventional lasers for the diagnosis of melanoma, bacteremia, sickle anemia, thrombosis, stroke, and abnormal hemoglobin forms, this current finding suggests the potential for the development of a portable rainbow Cytophone with multispectral laser diodes for the identification of these and other diseases.
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11
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Abstract
Blood cell analysis is essential for the diagnosis and identification of hematological malignancies. The use of digital microscopy systems has been extended in clinical laboratories. Super-resolution microscopy (SRM) has attracted wide attention in the medical field due to its nanoscale spatial resolution and high sensitivity. It is considered to be a potential method of blood cell analysis that may have more advantages than traditional approaches such as conventional optical microscopy and hematology analyzers in certain examination projects. In this review, we firstly summarize several common blood cell analysis technologies in the clinic, and analyze the advantages and disadvantages of these technologies. Then, we focus on the basic principles and characteristics of three representative SRM techniques, as well as the latest advances in these techniques for blood cell analysis. Finally, we discuss the developmental trend and possible research directions of SRM, and provide some discussions on further development of technologies for blood cell analysis.
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12
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Reiche MA, Aaron JS, Boehm U, DeSantis MC, Hobson CM, Khuon S, Lee RM, Chew TL. When light meets biology - how the specimen affects quantitative microscopy. J Cell Sci 2022; 135:274812. [PMID: 35319069 DOI: 10.1242/jcs.259656] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Fluorescence microscopy images should not be treated as perfect representations of biology. Many factors within the biospecimen itself can drastically affect quantitative microscopy data. Whereas some sample-specific considerations, such as photobleaching and autofluorescence, are more commonly discussed, a holistic discussion of sample-related issues (which includes less-routine topics such as quenching, scattering and biological anisotropy) is required to appropriately guide life scientists through the subtleties inherent to bioimaging. Here, we consider how the interplay between light and a sample can cause common experimental pitfalls and unanticipated errors when drawing biological conclusions. Although some of these discrepancies can be minimized or controlled for, others require more pragmatic considerations when interpreting image data. Ultimately, the power lies in the hands of the experimenter. The goal of this Review is therefore to survey how biological samples can skew quantification and interpretation of microscopy data. Furthermore, we offer a perspective on how to manage many of these potential pitfalls.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael A Reiche
- Advanced Imaging Center, Howard Hughes Medical Institute Janelia Research Campus, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA
| | - Jesse S Aaron
- Advanced Imaging Center, Howard Hughes Medical Institute Janelia Research Campus, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA
| | - Ulrike Boehm
- Advanced Imaging Center, Howard Hughes Medical Institute Janelia Research Campus, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA
| | - Michael C DeSantis
- Light Microscopy Facility, Howard Hughes Medical Institute Janelia Research Campus, Ashburn, VA 20147,USA
| | - Chad M Hobson
- Advanced Imaging Center, Howard Hughes Medical Institute Janelia Research Campus, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA
| | - Satya Khuon
- Advanced Imaging Center, Howard Hughes Medical Institute Janelia Research Campus, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA.,Howard Hughes Medical Institute Janelia Research Campus, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA
| | - Rachel M Lee
- Advanced Imaging Center, Howard Hughes Medical Institute Janelia Research Campus, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA
| | - Teng-Leong Chew
- Advanced Imaging Center, Howard Hughes Medical Institute Janelia Research Campus, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA.,Light Microscopy Facility, Howard Hughes Medical Institute Janelia Research Campus, Ashburn, VA 20147,USA
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13
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Yahiya S, Jordan S, Smith HX, Gaboriau DCA, Famodimu MT, Dahalan FA, Churchyard A, Ashdown GW, Baum J. Live-cell fluorescence imaging of microgametogenesis in the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum. PLoS Pathog 2022; 18:e1010276. [PMID: 35130301 PMCID: PMC8853644 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1010276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2021] [Revised: 02/17/2022] [Accepted: 01/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Formation of gametes in the malaria parasite occurs in the midgut of the mosquito and is critical to onward parasite transmission. Transformation of the male gametocyte into microgametes, called microgametogenesis, is an explosive cellular event and one of the fastest eukaryotic DNA replication events known. The transformation of one microgametocyte into eight flagellated microgametes requires reorganisation of the parasite cytoskeleton, replication of the 22.9 Mb genome, axoneme formation and host erythrocyte egress, all of which occur simultaneously in <20 minutes. Whilst high-resolution imaging has been a powerful tool for defining stages of microgametogenesis, it has largely been limited to fixed parasite samples, given the speed of the process and parasite photosensitivity. Here, we have developed a live-cell fluorescence imaging workflow that captures the entirety of microgametogenesis. Using the most virulent human malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum, our live-cell approach captured early microgametogenesis with three-dimensional imaging through time (4D imaging) and microgamete release with two-dimensional (2D) fluorescence microscopy. To minimise the phototoxic impact to parasites, acquisition was alternated between 4D fluorescence, brightfield and 2D fluorescence microscopy. Combining live-cell dyes specific for DNA, tubulin and the host erythrocyte membrane, 4D and 2D imaging together enables definition of the positioning of newly replicated and segregated DNA. This combined approach also shows the microtubular cytoskeleton, location of newly formed basal bodies, elongation of axonemes and morphological changes to the erythrocyte membrane, the latter including potential echinocytosis of the erythrocyte membrane prior to microgamete egress. Extending the utility of this approach, the phenotypic effects of known transmission-blocking inhibitors on microgametogenesis were confirmed. Additionally, the effects of bortezomib, an untested proteasomal inhibitor, revealed a clear block of DNA replication, full axoneme nucleation and elongation. Thus, as well as defining a framework for broadly investigating microgametogenesis, these data demonstrate the utility of using live imaging to validate potential targets for transmission-blocking antimalarial drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabrina Yahiya
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Sarah Jordan
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Holly X. Smith
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - David C. A. Gaboriau
- Facility for Imaging by Light Microscopy, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Farah A. Dahalan
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Alisje Churchyard
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - George W. Ashdown
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jake Baum
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
- * E-mail: ,
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14
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Edgar RCS, Counihan NA, McGowan S, de Koning-Ward TF. Methods Used to Investigate the Plasmodium falciparum Digestive Vacuole. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 11:829823. [PMID: 35096663 PMCID: PMC8794586 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.829823] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2021] [Accepted: 12/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Plasmodium falciparum malaria remains a global health problem as parasites continue to develop resistance to all antimalarials in use. Infection causes clinical symptoms during the intra-erythrocytic stage of the lifecycle where the parasite infects and replicates within red blood cells (RBC). During this stage, P. falciparum digests the main constituent of the RBC, hemoglobin, in a specialized acidic compartment termed the digestive vacuole (DV), a process essential for survival. Many therapeutics in use target one or multiple aspects of the DV, with chloroquine and its derivatives, as well as artemisinin, having mechanisms of action within this organelle. In order to better understand how current therapeutics and those under development target DV processes, techniques used to investigate the DV are paramount. This review outlines the involvement of the DV in therapeutics currently in use and focuses on the range of techniques that are currently utilized to study this organelle including microscopy, biochemical analysis, genetic approaches and metabolomic studies. Importantly, continued development and application of these techniques will aid in our understanding of the DV and in the development of new therapeutics or therapeutic partners for the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca C. S. Edgar
- School of Medicine, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia
- The Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia
| | - Natalie A. Counihan
- School of Medicine, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia
- The Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia
| | - Sheena McGowan
- Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Microbiology, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
- Centre to Impact AMR, Monash University, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
| | - Tania F. de Koning-Ward
- School of Medicine, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia
- The Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia
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15
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Durand M, Lelievre E, Chateau A, Berquand A, Laurent G, Carl P, Roux S, Chazee L, Bazzi R, Eghiaian F, Jubreaux J, Ronde P, Barberi-Heyob M, Chastagner P, Devy J, Pinel S. The detrimental invasiveness of glioma cells controlled by gadolinium chelate-coated gold nanoparticles. NANOSCALE 2021; 13:9236-9251. [PMID: 33977943 DOI: 10.1039/d0nr08936b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Glioblastoma are characterized by an invasive phenotype, which is thought to be responsible for recurrences and the short overall survival of patients. In the last decade, the promising potential of ultrasmall gadolinium chelate-coated gold nanoparticles (namely Au@DTDTPA(Gd)) was evidenced for image-guided radiotherapy in brain tumors. Considering the threat posed by invasiveness properties of glioma cells, we were interested in further investigating the biological effects of Au@DTDTPA(Gd) by examining their impact on GBM cell migration and invasion. In our work, exposure of U251 glioma cells to Au@DTDTPA(Gd) led to high accumulation of gold nanoparticles, that were mainly diffusely distributed in the cytoplasm of the tumor cells. Experiments pointed out a significant decrease in glioma cell invasiveness when exposed to nanoparticles. As the proteolysis activities were not directly affected by the intracytoplasmic accumulation of Au@DTDTPA(Gd), the anti-invasive effect cannot be attributed to matrix remodeling impairment. Rather, Au@DTDTPA(Gd) nanoparticles affected the intrinsic biomechanical properties of U251 glioma cells, such as cell stiffness, adhesion and generated traction forces, and significantly reduced the formation of protrusions, thus exerting an inhibitory effect on their migration capacities. Consistently, analysis of talin-1 expression and membrane expression of beta 1 integrin evoke the stabilization of focal adhesion plaques in the presence of nanoparticles. Taken together, our results highlight the interest in Au@DTDTPA(Gd) nanoparticles for the therapeutic management of astrocytic tumors, not only as a radio-enhancing agent but also by reducing the invasive potential of glioma cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maxime Durand
- Université de Lorraine, CNRS, CRAN, F-54000 Nancy, France.
| | - Elodie Lelievre
- Université de Reims-Champagne-Ardennes, UMR CNRS/URCA 7369, MEDyC, F-51100 Reims, France.
| | - Alicia Chateau
- Université de Lorraine, CNRS, CRAN, F-54000 Nancy, France.
| | | | - Gautier Laurent
- Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté, UMR CNRS 6213-UBFC, UTINAM, F-25000 Besançon, France
| | - Philippe Carl
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS UMR 7021 - Strasbourg, France
| | - Stéphane Roux
- Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté, UMR CNRS 6213-UBFC, UTINAM, F-25000 Besançon, France
| | - Lise Chazee
- Université de Reims-Champagne-Ardennes, UMR CNRS/URCA 7369, MEDyC, F-51100 Reims, France.
| | - Rana Bazzi
- Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté, UMR CNRS 6213-UBFC, UTINAM, F-25000 Besançon, France
| | | | | | - Philippe Ronde
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS UMR 7021 - Strasbourg, France
| | | | | | - Jérôme Devy
- Université de Reims-Champagne-Ardennes, UMR CNRS/URCA 7369, MEDyC, F-51100 Reims, France.
| | - Sophie Pinel
- Université de Lorraine, CNRS, CRAN, F-54000 Nancy, France.
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Fluorescence live cell imaging revealed wogonin targets mitochondria. Talanta 2021; 230:122328. [PMID: 33934785 DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2021.122328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2020] [Revised: 03/15/2021] [Accepted: 03/18/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Scutellaria baicalensis is one of the widely used Chinese traditional medicines, and wogonin is one of major active components in it. However, the mechanism of action of wogonin has largely remained unclear. In this work, we designed a fluorescent probe, namely ATTO565-WGN, by conjugating wogonin with the fluorophore ATTO565 based on Mannich reaction via a flexible chain linker. In vitro assays verified that the ATTO565-WGN conjugate has a similar anti-proliferative activity to wogonin against human A549 and HeLa cancer cell lines. Combining co-localization and competition studies, confocal fluorescence imaging clearly demonstrated that the fluorescent wogonin probe predominantly located in mitochondrial area of living cells, indicating that wogonin acts at mitochondrion to exert its pharmacological functions. Significantly, the conjugated ATTO565 fluorophore conferred the wogonin probe STED (Stimulated Emission Depletion) feature, enabling STED fluorescence living cell imaging with a 55 nm of ultrahigh spatial resolution. This will greatly beneficial for the in situ investigation of interactions between wogonin and biological targets at the finely organized and dynamic mitochondria of living cells. Moreover, this work also provides novel insights into rational design of mitochondrion targeting fluorescence probes for ultrahigh resolution living cell imaging.
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17
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Bertiaux E, Balestra AC, Bournonville L, Louvel V, Maco B, Soldati-Favre D, Brochet M, Guichard P, Hamel V. Expansion microscopy provides new insights into the cytoskeleton of malaria parasites including the conservation of a conoid. PLoS Biol 2021; 19:e3001020. [PMID: 33705377 PMCID: PMC7951857 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3001020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2020] [Accepted: 01/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Malaria is caused by unicellular Plasmodium parasites. Plasmodium relies on diverse microtubule cytoskeletal structures for its reproduction, multiplication, and dissemination. Due to the small size of this parasite, its cytoskeleton has been primarily observable by electron microscopy (EM). Here, we demonstrate that the nanoscale cytoskeleton organisation is within reach using ultrastructure expansion microscopy (U-ExM). In developing microgametocytes, U-ExM allows monitoring the dynamic assembly of axonemes and concomitant tubulin polyglutamylation in whole cells. In the invasive merozoite and ookinete forms, U-ExM unveils the diversity across Plasmodium stages and species of the subpellicular microtubule arrays that confer cell rigidity. In ookinetes, we additionally identify an apical tubulin ring (ATR) that colocalises with markers of the conoid in related apicomplexan parasites. This tubulin-containing structure was presumed to be lost in Plasmodium despite its crucial role in motility and invasion in other apicomplexans. Here, U-ExM reveals that a divergent and considerably reduced form of the conoid is actually conserved in Plasmodium species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eloïse Bertiaux
- University of Geneva, Department of Cell Biology, Faculty of Science, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Aurélia C. Balestra
- University of Geneva, Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Lorène Bournonville
- University of Geneva, Department of Cell Biology, Faculty of Science, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Vincent Louvel
- University of Geneva, Department of Cell Biology, Faculty of Science, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Bohumil Maco
- University of Geneva, Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Dominique Soldati-Favre
- University of Geneva, Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Mathieu Brochet
- University of Geneva, Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Paul Guichard
- University of Geneva, Department of Cell Biology, Faculty of Science, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Virginie Hamel
- University of Geneva, Department of Cell Biology, Faculty of Science, Geneva, Switzerland
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