Beauty of Science

Sponges are effective filter feeders that constantly take in bacteria and particulate matter from the environment. Cells along the sponge canal must organize into coordinated biomechanical pumps and tubes optimized for high fluid flow rate. We interrogated the 3D structure of sponge canal system by tracking the location of fluorescent beads as they enter the sponge canal system.

This image collage reveals the intricate beauty of mitosis through 4X expansion microscopy, capturing each stage—prophase, metaphase, anaphase, telophase, and interphase—in stunning detail. The scientist invites viewers into the world of cell division, where what appears chaotic transforms into a symphony of precision; a tribute to the 330 billion cells undergoing mitosis daily in our own bodies.

This illustration portrays the 3D morphology of anaphase, a crucial stage for nuclear reformation. It offers a glimpse into the artist’s mind, a vivid vision they see when they close their eyes, capturing the awe and mystery of this crucial moment in cell division.

Deep in the ocean or underground, where there is no oxygen, Geobacter bacteria breathe by projecting tiny protein filaments called nanowires into the soil, to dispose of excess electrons resulting from the conversion of nutrients to energy.

Deep in the ocean or underground, where there is no oxygen, Geobacter bacteria breathe by projecting tiny protein filaments called nanowires into the soil, to dispose of excess electrons resulting from the conversion of nutrients to energy.

Mouse neuromuscular junction, fixed and immunostained for cytoskeletal components (neurofilament, tubulin, and post-translational modifications).

This image captures Babesia, a tick-borne parasite isolated from an infected human red blood cell, actively producing extracellular vesicles. These vesicles, visualized through scanning electron microscopy, are critical for the parasite's communication and survival.

Class IV cells are sensory neurons which receive inputs from the environment and transmit them back to the brain. In Drosophila, this phenomenon is important for the larvae’s ability to evade parasitic wasps. The Howard lab works to uncover the mechanisms which govern dendritic branching in Class IV neurons. The goal of this experiment was to observe how cytoplasmic GFP is distributed throughout the branches of dendrites. Surprisingly, fluorescence was seen in the muscle cells surrounding the dendrite as well. This image serves as a reminder that biology is not done in a vacuum. While there is necessity to isolate our models, we must never lose sight of the bigger picture.

Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining slide from paraffin section

Electron microphotograph of a dividing mitotic cell (highlighted red) from the neocortex ventricular surface.

Time projection images of mast cells (RBL-2H3) expressing active mutant of formin mDia3 (mCherry-mDia3ΔDAD), captured by Total Internal Reflection Fluorescence Microscopy (TIRFM). Formins play major roles in regulating actin dynamics. They can de novo nucleate and elongate linear actin filaments, which then in turn collaborate with other actin-binding proteins to assemble higher-order actin superstructures. One example of such structures is the filopodia, which resemble thin, finger-like protrusions. Filopodia are essential for cells to environment-sensing and migration.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis is a member of a large family of Mycobacteria, many of which are overshadowed by TB’s infamy. This is a compilation of the beautiful, lesser-known cousins of MTb, known collectively as the non-tuberculous mycobacteria (e.g. M. intracellulare, M. avium, M. fortuitum, M. abscessus).

Two-photon microscopy of intraepidermal nerve fibers transducing pain sensation in the toe of a living transgenic mouse expressing the tdTomato fluorophore (magenta) in neurons expressing the Scn10a gene, which encodes a voltage-gated sodium channel enriched in these small fibers. Cyan signals indicate collagen fibers in the dermis.

Photomicrograph of circular focus in a human placenta.

Photomicrograph of a human endometrial gland.

This super-resolution microscopy image of an immature mammalian oocyte shows complex actin cytoskeleton networks (labelled with fluorescent phalloidin) in the cytoplasm. The image also shows the existence of actin filaments inside the huge nucleus (dark region at the cell's center) of the oocyte as it prepares to become a fertilizable egg and ultimately an embryo.

For cancer patients, the most important battle is in a microscopic war zone. Using Stellaris microscopy and immunofluorescent imaging, we get a glimpse into the heroic battle fought by soldiers of the immune system. In this surgically excised lung tumor, fluorescent tags show T cells (small, pink, round cells) valiantly invading the tumor (upper left corner of image) while B cells prepare antibody reinforcements by forming strongholds of tertiary lymphoid structures (large, bright, multi-colored, nebulous structures on the tumor’s periphery). By studying tumor-infiltrating cells, the Lieping Chen Lab is deciphering cancer’s genetic code and uncovering cancer’s susceptibility to immunotherapy.

The MurD protein exists in open (green) and closed (purple) conformation as seen in the image. In the open conformation the ligands can bind to the pockets in the protein whereas in closed conformation, the pockets are blocked hence preventing ligand binding. We visualize these structures using PyMOL, an open-source molecular visualization software, revealing a hinge-like mechanism. This image was rendered using Unreal Engine, a 3D computer graphics tool with a custom shader.

This image depicts a clew (group) of blood flukes of the species Schistosoma mansoni. Schistosomes, which infect over 200 million people in tropical developing nations, are a major global cause of liver and bladder disease. The parasites in this photo were recovered from infected laboratory hamsters, which the Cappello research group has employed as an animal model to study schistosome infection and pathology. In the photo, male schistosomes are thicker than the females; the largest parasites in the image are about 5 mm in length. They were photographed using a dissecting microscope under 20x magnification.

This image of a bioluminescent sea algae from the coast of California was taken using Two Photon Fluorescence microscopy without any additional fluorophore staining. In its dormant form (during nighttime dark cycles), it resembles the eye of Sauron, from the Lord of the Rings. During the night, chlorophyl is pulled inward towards the center, and bioluminescent vesicles take their place to illuminate the tides of the night.

Mouse small intestinal polyp features massive tissue outgrowths, coupled with abnormal cell-cell interactions between epithelial cells and fibroblasts in a deformed stem cell microenvironment. Immunofluorescence staining of epithelial cell membrane (EPCAM, magenta), fibroblast membrane (PDGFRa, yellow) and all cell nuclei (DAPI, cyan) with scale bar (100 micron).

Harvested seminal vesicle (a genitourinary organ) of the mouse and stained by H&E technique.

Lung airway segmentation, creating using ITK-Snap program 3D construction of the lung bast on high resolution CT images from explant human lungs (End stage lung fibrosis).

The Zygote is the stem cell which gives rise to every other cell, tissue, and organ in the body. At six hours post-fertilization, this mouse zygote contains a cytoskeletal structure in green, a marker for the nuclear envelope in magenta, and DNA in cyan. The nuclear envelope wraps around the maternal and paternal DNA to form the two pronuclei, which will eventually fuse into one. They can be used to study tissues, organs, aging, diseases, cancer, life... This cell is on the brink of something greater.