Magnifying a Molecule: MINFLUX Nanoscopy of an HIV-Infected Cell

Arun, Neha

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/117892 Copy

Description

Title

Magnifying a Molecule: MINFLUX Nanoscopy of an HIV-Infected Cell

Author(s)

Arun, Neha

Contributor(s)

Boateng , Kingsley

Issue Date

2023

Keyword(s)

Image of Research

Abstract

The Minimum Photon FLUX (MINFLUX) developed by Abberior described as the “world’s most powerful fluorescence microscope,” can achieve a resolution around the single molecule level (1-3 nanometers), essentially making it a nanoscope (Gwosch et al., 2020). This super-resolution tool presents an unprecedented method of resolving the structure of a human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected cell. Upon infection, HIV’s integrates into the host cell where it hides from the immune system. The difficulty of eradicating this “latent reservoir” of cells which can become reactivated during treatment interruption is why HIV remains without a cure. My research seeks to define how HIV hijacks human host proteins to facilitate virus spread upon reactivation, which requires a detailed understanding on the molecular level. Here I combine my passions for multimedia editing and research to present a visualization of how it felt to zoom into this cell during MINFLUX acquisition until I was almost seeing individual molecules interact. Many people have to “see it to believe it,” and this is possible with the MINFLUX at the Institute for Genomic Biology (IGB), only the third of its kind in the United States. Images were captured with the help of Dr. Kingsley Boateng at the IGB.

Type of Resource

still image

Language

en

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