Tuneable multifocal plane microscopy for high frame rate three-dimensional fluorescence microscopy of cilia/flagella

Flagella and cilia are protrusion from cell surfaces with motility, signalling and sensory functions, possessing a highly conserved molecular skeleton found across eukaryotic life. One useful model of flagellar motility is Leishmania mexicana (L. mexicana), a protozoan parasite possessing a single motile flagellum. L. mexicana is one of the most diverged eukaryotes, and the aetiological agent of leishmaniasis, a neglected tropical disease. The flagellum has a multitude of important roles, extending beyond cell motility to morphogenesis, vector attachment and, potentially, sensory reception. Therefore, studying flagella in this model organism allows the investigation of questions relating to both eukaryotic-wide and parasite-specific flagellar biology. This project aims to elucidate structural and functional aspects of flagellar biology by developing new microscopy techniques in collaboration with Cairn Research Institute to visualise the flagella in swimming L. mexicana cells.

BBSRC priority areas the proposed research addressed:
World-Class Underpinning Bioscience
Bioscience for Health
Exploiting New Ways of Working