Forget what's number one at the box office this week. The most exciting new film features the intricate workings of the body, filmed by scientists using ground-breaking technology.
For the first time in Australia, scientists at Sydney's Centenary Institute have filmed an immune cell becoming infected by a parasite and followed the infection as it begins to spread throughout the body.
Professor Wolfgang Weninger, head of the Immune Imaging program at the Centenary Institute, says the discovery (published in PLoS Pathogens) was made possible using high powered multi-photon microscopy which allows real cells to be viewed in real time.
"Using multi-photon microscopy, we studied dendritic cells in the skin. Under normal conditions we found the cells in the epidermis (top layer) were static, whereas in the dermis (second layer) they were very active, moving around as though seeking out pathogens," explains Professor Weninger. "Once we established this, it was fascinating to introduce the Leishmania infection and watch as the parasite was picked up by the cells and the process by which it began to spread throughout the body."
Leishmaniasis affects up to 12 million people in parts of Africa, the Middle East and South America. The disease causes skin sores and can affect internal organs such as the spleen, liver and bone marrow. If left untreated, it can be fatal.
The ability to visually follow a pathogen on its journey through the immune cells provides critical insight for future vaccine design and has potential to improve current vaccinations.
"We now have a general idea of how pathogens are recognised by the immune system and which cells are involved," Professor Weninger says. "This means we can look at identifying the molecules responsible for the uptake of Leishmania infection and these molecules could become vaccine targets. Additionally, we can investigate the immune responses of other infections
'/>"/>
| Contact: Erin Sharp e.sharp@centenary.org.au 61-295-656-118 Research Australia Source:Eurekalert |
Related biology news :
1. Rooted plants move mysteriously down greenways, scientists say
2. Caltech scientists show function of helical band in heart
3. Argonne scientists discover possible mechanism for creating handedness in biological molecules
4. Scientists developing food allergy treatment
5. Wistar scientists find key to keeping killer T cells in prime shape for fighting infection, cancer
6. CSHL scientists discover a new way in which epigenetic information is inherited
7. Caltech scientists develop barcode chip for cheap, fast blood tests
8. UNC scientists teach enzyme to make synthetic heparin in more varieties
9. Childrens Hospital scientists achieve repair of injured heart muscle in lab tests of stem cells
10. Scientists shed light on evolution of gene regulation
11. Scientists build roach motel for nasty bugs of the bacterial variety
| Copyright © 2003-2012 Bio-Medicine. All rights reserved. ABOUT | CONTACT US | DISCLAIMER | PRIVACY POLICY | TERMS AND CONDITIONS |  |