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Tetracycline-family antibiotics may offer early diagnostic for degenerative eye disease

Researchers discovered a potential new method to detect age-related macular degeneration using tetracycline staining and fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy. Tiny deposits of lipids, proteins, and minerals under the retina can be visualized with this technique, offering enhanced early detection.

SourceSPIE--International Society for Optics and Photonics·JournalJournal of Biomedical Optics·DateApr 21, 2020

Impulse for research on fungi

Researchers have developed a new method to visualize fungi using expansion microscopy, allowing for detailed studies of fungal biology and potential applications in medicine. The technique has been successfully applied to three fungal species, including the clinically relevant Aspergillus fumigatus.

SourceUniversity of Würzburg·JournalFrontiers in Microbiology·DateApr 8, 2020

Dresden biologists make living sperm glow

Researchers used a label-free technique to investigate the metabolism of living biological tissues in fruit flies. They found that sperm had a highly glycolytic metabolism similar to that of cancer cells, which may contribute to their ability to remain fresh in female bodies. The study also suggests potential clinical applications for ...

SourceTechnische Universität Dresden·JournalScientific Reports·DateJan 15, 2020

New technique aims to improve imaging of cells

Researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute developed a new deep neural network to improve fluorescence lifetime imaging, enabling rapid and detailed analysis of cellular interactions in cancer cells. This technique requires less light while producing detailed images, bringing the field closer to clinical use for precision medicine.

SourceRensselaer Polytechnic Institute·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateNov 13, 2019

Tracking the HI virus

A European research team has developed a method to track the HI virus's spread between living cells using superresolution STED fluorescence microscopy. The study reveals that the HIV pathogen creates a specific lipid environment for replication, providing a potential target for antiviral drugs.

SourceFriedrich-Schiller-Universitaet Jena·JournalScience Advances·DateOct 2, 2019

HD microscopy in milliseconds

Researchers from Bielefeld University have developed a faster method for super-resolution SR-SIM microscopy, allowing for real-time recording of cell movements and observations of small structures. This enables biologists to explore such structures in detail, particularly in the study of viral particles on their way through cells.

SourceBielefeld University·JournalNature Communications·DateSep 20, 2019

Rice lab produces simple fluorescent surfactants

Researchers at Rice University have developed a set of eight fluorescent surfactants that can capture images of single nanotubes or cells using fluorescent microscopy. These compounds show promise for use in medicine, manufacturing, water purification and biomedical applications.

SourceRice University·JournalPure and Applied Chemistry·DateAug 5, 2019

Tiny light-up barcodes identify molecules by their twinkling

Researchers have developed a technique using time signals 'temporal barcodes' that can label molecules with distinct flashing patterns. This allows for the detection and identification of any number of molecules, including proteins, at the molecular scale, increasing efficiency and reducing costs compared to traditional methods.

SourceDuke University·JournalACS Synthetic Biology·DateApr 12, 2019

Shaping light lets 2D microscopes capture 4D data

Rice University researchers have developed a method to capture 4D data using 2D microscopes, enabling scientists to visualize molecules' locations and movements in living cells. The technique uses custom phase masks to manipulate light and separate spatial and temporal information.

SourceRice University·JournalOptics Express·DateFeb 14, 2019

Cellular stress at the movies

Biological imaging experts at Colorado State University have used a custom fluorescence microscope to capture individual RNA molecules interacting with stress granules. The results show that RNA translation is completely silenced before the RNAs enter the stress granules, providing unprecedented details of the cellular stress response.

SourceColorado State University·JournalNature Cell Biology·DateJan 25, 2019

Inflate cells to observe their inner life

Researchers at the University of Geneva have developed a new technique called Ultrastructure Expansion Microscopy (U-ExM), which allows for the visualization of cellular structures and protein complexes at a nanoscale. This method enables the detection of biochemical modifications and mapping of large intracellular molecular complexes.

SourceUniversité de Genève·JournalNature Methods·DateDec 17, 2018

Tiny spiders, big color

A team of Harvard scientists discovered that tiny Phoroncidia rubroargentea spiders use a combination of structural colors, pigment, and fluorescent material to produce their distinctive red and silver hues. The colors are stabilized by a tough cuticle layer, with the silver color relying on a reflective material similar to fish scales.

SourceHarvard University·JournalJournal of The Royal Society Interface·DateMay 11, 2018

Innovative microscope poised to propel optogenetics studies

A new microscope, Firefly, has been developed to study brain activity and neurological disorders. With a 6-millimeter-diameter field of view, the microscope can image neural circuits containing hundreds of cells, allowing for the observation of electrical pulses traveling between neurons.

SourceOptica·JournalBiomedical Optics Express·DateNov 29, 2017