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Three-dimensional time-lapse images of membrane ruffles in COS-7 cells transfected with plasmids encoding mEmerald–c-Src obtained by Bessel beam two-photon light-sheet microscopy. Cover design by Erin Dewalt, based on images provided by James A. Galbraith. Article p417
Researchers have taken first steps toward functional connectomics. By combining large-scale serial electron microscopy and functional imaging data, the structure of neural networks can be related to their function.
A technique to substantially increase the resolution and imaging area of Fourier-transform infrared microspectroscopy, while decreasing the amount of time required for image acquisition, may augment the use of this technology in biomedical and environmental research.
Improved methods for human pluripotent stem cell culture and for reprogramming of human somatic cells to pluripotency may bring us closer to the routine generation of personalized pluripotent stem cells.
A parallel microfluidic cytometer combines low-pixel-count, one-dimensional images with parallel-channel flow cytometry for high-speed, high-throughput screening of cells.
Incorporation of one-dimensional imaging capability into a parallel microfluidic flow cytometer allows fast, low-resolution acquisition of images that permit classification of cells by automated analysis of preselected features.
Short hairpin RNAs, expressed from microRNA scaffold–containing vectors, efficiently silence gene expression in female germ cells as well as somatic cells in the fly. A genome-wide resource is being developed.
Human induced pluripotent stem cells are generated with episomal plasmid vectors at increased efficiency using non-transforming L-Myc and knockdown of p53. Also in this issue, Chen et al. report defined conditions for human cell reprogramming and culture.
Rapid, high-resolution, label-free Fourier-transform infrared imaging of biological samples is made possible by combining multiple synchrotron beams with wide-field detection.
Light sheet microscopy using a scanned Bessel beam in combination with structured illumination or two-photon excitation reduces photobleaching and phototoxicity, improves axial resolution and allows isotropic three-dimensional imaging. The authors demonstrate performance of the method via fast volumetric subcellular imaging of several dynamic processes in single living cells.
A defined and simplified culture system for the derivation and growth of human induced pluripotent stem cells is reported. It permits increased efficiency of human reprogramming with an episomal approach. Also in this issue, Okita et al. describe methods for more efficient episomal reprogramming of human cells.