2020 Online Salon
Rapid induction of human microglia-like cells and demonstrations of their functional competence
Project Details
- Entrant Name: Lydia Gregg
- Membership Type: Professional Submission
- Other Contributors: Jeff Day
- Address: Baltimore, Maryland USA
- Client: Dr. Amanda Brown
- Copyright: 2020 Johns Hopkins University
- Medium/software used: Adobe Photoshop, Cinema 4D, Zbrush
- Final presentation format: Peer-reviewed article in a scientific journal
- Primary Audience: Biochemists and microbiologists
Project Description
This illustration depicts two stages of a study on the rapid induction of human microglia-like cells: first, the method of induction, and second, demonstrations of the cells’ functional competence.
The left side highlights the adult human origin of the monocytes, the contents of their incubation medium, and their progression into ramified microglia. The viewer may then follow the path to the right side of the illustration, which darkens as the microglia are exposed to agents that demonstrate their competence. An ameboid microglia cell is shown phagocytizing amyloid beta peptide, as it would in the brain. The ramified form is shown with an HIV-1 infection, which is detected via the presence of capsid protein, indicating expression of microglia receptors that bind to HIV-1. The lower right iconography depicts potential future uses of the microglia, such as in vitro research, and reintroduction into the brain. The red color symbolizes binding of tomato lectin, a hallmark of microglia.
