2021 OMS Best Student Micrograph Contest Entries

Title: “The torch” – A kidney histological section

By Sergio A. Pineda-Castillo

Biomedical Engineering Ph.D. Student in Dr. Bradley N. Bohnstedt and Dr. Chung-Hao Lee’s lab
Stephenson School of Biomedical Engineering – Biomechanics and Biomaterials Design Laboratory, University of Oklahoma

Description: Confocal fluorescence micrograph of a human kidney histological section originally stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E). A collecting duct of the kidney was imaged using autofluorescence in a Leica TCS SP8 Confocal Microscope – 10X objective, a 561nm excitation laser and “6_shades” LUT (ImageJ – Fiji). This micrograph shows the histological structure of the kidney where glomerular filtrate and tubular fluids are reabsorbed by structures, such as the Loop of Henle and the proximal and distal tubules.

Title: Sun Glinting Ocean

By Neda Heydarian

University of Oklahoma

Description: We are like ocean creatures that embrace the Sun as it never stops shining on us.This oceanic image is actually adopted from a fluorescent micrograph of a bacterial microorganism culture. The bacteria (NDM1) is one of the most dangerous drug resistant bacteria on the planet which causes severe infections in humans. The planktonic form of the bacteria was treated with the antibacterial agent 600 Da branched poly ethylenimine (BPEI) and imaged using a Confocal Laser Scanning SP8 Microscopy. The image was edited using FIJI and Adobe Photoshop software.

Title: High density polyethylene powder shape  

By Emmanuel Hakizimana

University of Oklahoma

Description: The image shows the neat high density polyethylene! The sample was prepared dried in the oven at 90C for 18hours to remove any moisture content. After, the dried powder was dispersed in pure ethanol in a airbrush container. Airbrush uses Venturi effect principle to mix the sample (powder and ethanol) and air from the air supply. The air used was compressed gas assuming to add no moisture. The mixture was sprayed on carbon tape which provide adhesion and electrical conductivity to the ground (SEM stage). The mixture was lightly sprayed on the carbon tape to ensure particles are spaced out.

Title: Pseudomonas aeruginosa infecting cancerous lung epithelial cells

By Deepali Luthra

Oklahoma State University

Description: Pseudomonas aeruginosa infecting cancerous lung epithelial cells were grown on glass coverslips and infected for 2 hours. The cells were fixed with osmium tetroxide, followed by dehydration and critical point drying using hexa methyldisilazane. The coverslips were mounted on the aluminum stubs using silver paint and sputter-coated with gold/palladium. The samples were imaged using SEM (10,000x magnification).