Art in science: How microimaging is being used to solve scientific problems

Kelli Trinoskey

January 30, 2023

At the core of science is creativity, and the practice of science requires the ability to visualize and imagine certain processes in order to solve scientific problems.

Microimaging uses visible light to make invisible things visible. These images, which detail the wonder of our biology, showcase the beauty and complexity of life.

Microimaging of intestinal cells
An organoid, or an artificially grown mass of intestinal cells. The red shows where the cells are dividing and growing to, in effect, create “mini guts.”

In her lab, Maria Mihaylova, PhD, assistant professor of Biological Chemistry and Pharmacology at The Ohio State University College of Medicine, recreates the intestine in a dish to uncover how factors such as age and diet can alter intestinal cells’ ability to transport nutrients and disturb metabolic and intestinal processes in the elderly. The lab studies nutrient sensing and nutrient utilization in the intestine and liver to determine how these pathways are influenced by diet, age and the microbiota. To answer these questions, researchers use several genetic and analytical approaches, which more closely resemble the architectural and functional properties of living tissue. The ultimate goal is to translate the findings into potential treatments for metabolic disorders such as kidney and cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and cancer.

Microimaging of brain tissue after traumatic brain injury — **Brain tissue after traumatic brain injury**
A mouse cerebral cortex, the outermost part of the brain, following mild traumatic brain injury.

Microimaging of the vasculature network in the spinal cord of an adult mouse — The 3D image of the vasculature network in the adult mouse spinal cord. These images received honorable mention and distinction, respectively, in the 2022 Nikon Small World Competition.

In his lab, Andrea Tedeschi, PhD, assistant professor of Neuroscience at The Ohio State College of Medicine, works to solve a central mystery in neuroscience — how a neuron’s ability to produce or transfer an impulse and produce electrical impulses changes following trauma to the central nervous system (CNS). Dr. Tedeschi is testing the bounds of high-tech microscopic and 3D imaging approaches, which allows his team to see intricate and transparent details not previously available. Progress along this line will allow researchers to manipulate the self-repair mechanisms of the brain and spinal cord and help to design specific therapies aimed to improve neurological function and quality of life in individuals afflicted by traumatic CNS injury.

Microimaging of staph infection in white blood cells — **White blood cells**
Pictured are cells in the process of ingesting the bacteria *Staphylococcus aureus*.

The images above depict multiple events that occur when human neutrophils, the most abundant type of white blood cells, fail to destroy bacteria growing within biofilms, which are thin, slimy films of bacteria that adhere to a surface in infections, such as chronic wounds and the lungs of people with cystic fibrosis.

This process takes place in the lab of Daniel Wozniak, PhD, a professor and vice chair of the Department of Microbial Infection and Immunity at the Ohio State College of Medicine. The Wozniak Lab seeks to understand the disease development of infections that are often resistant both to natural immunity as well as antimicrobial materials.

Microimaging of the neurological cells in the brain — **Neuro cells in the brain**
Shown in red are neurotransmitter cells that deliver dopamine, which deteriorate in conditions like Parkinson’s disease. Understanding the transport capabilities of viral particles will help researchers rescue deficient enzymes in these cells (pictured in green) when developing gene therapies for brain diseases.

Microimaging of the cerebellar cortex in the brain — **The cerebellar cortex of the brain**
This region of the brain receives information from most parts of the body and from many other regions of the brain. It processes this information and sends signals back to the rest of the brain, thereby enabling accurate and well-coordinated movements.

Microimaging of the cross-section of the spinal cord — **Cross-section of the spinal cord**
Motoneurons in the lumbosacral region of the spinal cord after the injection of a viral vector into the spinal fluid.

Above, microphotography captures the movement of viral particles into nerve cells within the brain. This region is important because of its role in coordination of movement and chemical signaling, which affects learning, mood, judgment, decision-making and other processes.

These images are from the lab of Lluis Samaranch, PhD, assistant professor of Neurological Surgery at the Ohio State College of Medicine. His research seeks to create new therapies for rare and ultra-rare pediatric diseases. He’s studying how to harness “viral vectors,” or neutralized viruses that no longer carry disease but can act as delivery mechanisms that can distribute genetic therapies directly into the brain or through cerebrospinal fluid (the fluid surrounding the brain and all tissues within the spinal cord).