Intravital microscopy: Imaging host-parasite interactions in the brain

Intravital fluorescence microscopy (IVM) is a powerful technique for imaging multiple organs, including the brain of living mice and rats. It enables the direct visualisation of cells in situ providing a real-life view of biological processes that in vitro systems cannot. In addition, to the technol...

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Main Authors: Niz, Mariana De (Author) , Nacer, Adéla (Author) , Frischknecht, Friedrich (Author)
Format: Article (Journal)
Language:English
Published: 04 March 2019
In: Cellular microbiology
Year: 2019, Volume: 21, Issue: 5, Pages: 1-11
ISSN:1462-5822
DOI:10.1111/cmi.13024
Online Access:Verlag, Volltext: https://doi.org/10.1111/cmi.13024
Verlag, Volltext: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/cmi.13024
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Author Notes:Mariana De Niz, Adéla Nacer, Friedrich Frischknecht
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Summary:Intravital fluorescence microscopy (IVM) is a powerful technique for imaging multiple organs, including the brain of living mice and rats. It enables the direct visualisation of cells in situ providing a real-life view of biological processes that in vitro systems cannot. In addition, to the technological advances in microscopy over the last decade, there have been supporting innovations in data storage and analytical packages that enable the visualisation and analysis of large data sets. Here, we review the advantages and limitations of techniques predominantly used for brain IVM, including thinned skull windows, open skull cortical windows, and a miniaturised optical system based on microendoscopic probes that can be inserted into deep tissues. Further, we explore the relevance of these techniques for the field of parasitology. Several protozoan infections are associated with neurological symptoms including Plasmodium spp., Toxoplasma spp., and Trypanosoma spp. IVM has led to crucial findings on these parasite species, which are discussed in detail in this review.
Item Description:Gesehen am 15.05.2019
Physical Description:Online Resource
ISSN:1462-5822
DOI:10.1111/cmi.13024