In a Single Breath
Zeiss Axioobserver with the Apotome; Imaris 3D Visualization Package
Katrina Diaz and Alex Cioffi
Martin Burke Laboratory
http://www.scs.illinois.edu/burke/
Funded by the NIH and HHMI
To create this image, researchers used specialized software to track the movement of fluorescent beads and calculate a mean speed of movement. This is a way to quantify the ability of cilia, tendril-like cellular structures that act like paddles or appendages, to move mucus inside the human lung. In cystic fibrosis, these cilia are impeded by thick mucus and cannot move. This experiment is a way to study potential treatments to restore normal lung function in individuals with cystic fibrosis.
