Cellular & Molecular Imaging

The Darwin Tree of Life project has the goal to sequence the genomes of 70,000 species of eukaryotic organisms in Britain and Ireland. This is a collection of photographs of the samples included in the study, provided by the National History Museum (NHM).

Live cell imaging movies and IHC data from Drosophila Neurons together with computer simulation results.

Lepidoptera, i.e. butterflies and moths, are vital components of the global ecosystem. Project Psyche is a scientific research project established to sequence the genomes of all butterflies and moths of Europe; helping to conserve, protect and drive innovation.

The Darwin Tree of Life project has the goal to sequence the genomes of 70,000 species of eukaryotic organisms in Britain and Ireland. This is a collection of photographs of the samples included in the study, provided by the National History Museum (NHM).

Live cell imaging movies and IHC data from Drosophila Neurons together with computer simulation results.

Background Microsporidia sp. MB, a microsporidian symbiont found naturally in Anopheles mosquitoes, has potential as a novel malaria control tool since it can inhibit Plasmodium development and transmission. The most feasible MB-based Plasmodium control strategy would involve dissemination through live mosquito releases, or release of spores infective to mosquito larvae. To implement either strategy, establishment of stable mosquito colonies carrying MB at a high frequency is likely to be essential. The progeny of field caught An. gambiae s.l from Burkina Faso were isolated for individual egg laying and tested for MB. The progeny of the MB positive females were pooled and this process was repeated for multiple generations. The relative density of MB in different life stages and tissues of the An. coluzzii host was examined using a novel duplex qPCR assay. We also examined the impact of MB on fecundity through individualization for egg laying and counting of eggs. Finally, we examined laid eggs for presence of MB spores. Results Three An. coluzzii colonies and one An. gambiae s.l hybrid colony were established with high prevalence and density of MB and were maintained for more than two years with minimal intervention. MB prevalence and density was highest in eggs and adult females and lowest in L4 larvae; in adults density was highest in the gonads. Additionally, MB density increased in ovary samples following blood feeding which was likely due to the activation of sporogony. The production of spores is the reason why MB-carrying females lay more white non-hatching eggs and show a small reduction in fecundity. Conclusions Establishment of several stable MB carrying An. gambiae s.l colonies and understanding the impact of spores on fecundity are significant steps forward in developing MB as a malaria control tool.

raw data of manuscript

Individual 3D cell shapes of Drosophila Wing Disc

With this dataset, we present light sheet microscopical datasets of iDISCO+ cleared adult mouse brains. They feature an immunohistochemical staining of neuronal cell bodies (HuC/HuD), cell nuclei (TO-PRO-3), myelinated neurites (Myelin Basic Protein), and an autofluorescence channel. For all channels, we provide whole-brain overview data for visualization and registration and a detailed view including sensory cortical areas on cellular level (0.54 x 0.54 x 6µm XYZ). The data provide insight into cell distribution, cell densities and fibre directions in the neocortex.

Polyphasic studies on cyanobacterial biodiversity are scarce in the Caribbean and have never been conducted in the Dominican Republic. In this study we analysed sixteen cyanobacterial isolates sampled from biofilms growing on rocks and related to freshwater, saline and thermal environments across the country. A polyphasic approach was employed, incorporating 16S rRNA gene phylogenetic analysis, molecular identity assessments (p-distance), 16S–23S ITS sequence comparison and secondary structure analysis, alongside morphological characterization and habitat comparison. The strains were distributed across the orders Nodosilineales, Oculatellales, Oscillatoriales and Nostocales. Eleven strains were identified as belonging to Almyronema, Euryhalinema, Salileptolyngbya, Nodosilinea, Reticulonema, Vacuolonema, Capilliphycus, Purpureonostoc, Violetonostoc, Desmonostoc and Hapalosiphon. Additionally, four strains formed three distinct clades and presented low 16S rRNA gene identities with their phylogenetically closest genera, suggesting the existence of three undescribed lineages pending comprehensive polyphasic study. At the species level, four strains were considered undescribed lineages pending comprehensive polyphasic study and one strain (LEGE 171504) was described as a new species of Salileptolyngbya. This study represents the first investigation into the cyanobacterial diversity of Dominican Republic expanding the distribution of the identified taxa. Moreover, this is the first report of Salileptolyngbya in the Caribbean region and in brackish waters, as well as the first newly described cyanobacterial species from the Dominican Republic.