Medical Research Foundation’s Post

🏆 The 1st place winner of our Festive Science Image Competition, run in partnership with the Medical Research Council, is 'Twinkling Toxoplasma'. 🔬 Created by Dr Kseniia Bondarenko, Postdoctoral Research Associate from Young Lab, University of Edinburgh, the image shows human skin cells grown in a lab environment. The cells have been infected with a parasite, Toxoplasma gondii, that causes the infectious disease, Toxoplasmosis. 💊 "Scientists often use microscopy to explore the biology of parasites such as this, seeking clues for potential drug targets,” explains Kseniia. 🎄 Kseniia used fluorescent dyes to highlight various parasite structures, and then captured high resolution images revealing the parasites' basket-like skeleton (shown in yellow), inner shell (magenta), and DNA (blue). The ‘star’ on top of the tree is a regular-microscopy snapshot of an unusually large parasite rosette – a cluster of parasites that clump together inside the body. ✨This technique has the potential to illuminate otherwise unseen elements of parasites, so that areas of infection within the body can be more effectively treated. ➡️ The image is featured on our Season's Greetings card for 2024. Order your copy now! https://lnkd.in/gDjEj_xg The University of Edinburgh #FestiveScienceImage #Toxoplasmosis #parasites #microscopy

  • Toxoplasmosis is an illness caused by an infection with the parasite Toxoplasma gondii. Scientists often use microscopy to explore the biology of parasites such as this, seeking clues for potential drug targets.

To create this image, shaped like a Christmas tree, Dr Kseniia Bondarenko grew human skin cells in the lab, and then infected them with Toxoplasma. She then used fluorescent dyes to highlight various parasite structures, and captured high-resolution images.

The high-resolution images revealed the parasites’ basket-like skeleton (shown in yellow), inner shell (magenta), and DNA (blue). The ‘star’ on top of the tree is a regular-microscopy snapshot of an unusually large parasite rosette – a cluster of parasites that clump together inside the body.

This technique has the potential to illuminate complex parasite structures, so that areas of infection within the body can be more effectively targeted and treated.
Tina Christmann

Microscopy and Image Analysis | Beekeeper

1mo

Congrats Kseniia Bondarenko, looks perfect! 😍

To view or add a comment, sign in

Explore topics