October 2012: This Month in JoVE

Abstract

Here are some highlights from the October 2012 issue of Journal of Visualized Experiments (JoVE). Gronlund et al. demonstrate how to isolate and analyze specific cell types in plant leaves expressing green fluorescent protein (GFP) using fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS). This method overcomes the interfering fluorescence of the chlorophyll found in leaves, and distinguishes GFP-expressing protoplasts from non-GFP protoplasts. In JoVE Neuroscience, Babona-Pilipos et al. demonstrate how to construct a chamber for measuring galvanotaxis, or cell migration within an electric field. Through time-lapse imaging and image analysis, the authors can study the migratory behavior of neural precursor cells in an electric field, which may lead to the use of electrical stimulation to direct neural precursors to sites of injury or disease. Articles involving microfluidic platforms have a significant publication history in JoVE. Harris et al. have released three articles, which involve a microfluidic device for separating axons from neuronal cell bodies. This month in JoVE Neuroscience, Higashimori et al. use this microfluidic platform to investigate the interactions between neuronal axons and glial cells, which are critical for the physiological function of the nervous system. In JoVE Bioengineering, two research groups demonstrate the novel bioadhesive properties of chitosan-a polymer derived from chitin, which is found in fungal cell walls or in the exoskeletons of crustaceans and insects. Chitosan is used in many industrial and agricultural applications, and bioengineers are also finding uses for it in surgical applications. Foster et al. have developed a laser-activated surgical film called Surgilux, which combines chitosan with indocyanine green ICG), a photosensitive dye. This surgical film binds strongly to tissue, such as muscle, after laser irradiation. Lauto et al. developed a surgical film that combines chitosan with the photoactive dye, rose Bengal. This novel film also binds strongly to tissues, such as intestine, after it is irradiated. These adhesive films are biocompatible and may potentially be used in various surgical procedures in place of sutures. In JoVE Clinical and Translational Medicine, Fiema et al. demonstrate a high-throughput technique for validating biomarkers in graft vs. host disease, a common and life-threatening complication of cell or tissue transplantation. The authors use commercially available ELISAs to analyze multiple proteins in sequential fashion. In JoVE Immunology and Infection, Keyel et al. demonstrate how to measure the real-time kinetics of immune cell responses to bacterial toxins using high-speed live cell microscopy. This method can be used to show how immune cells respond to bacterial toxins. Combined with high-speed 3D confocal microscopy, this technique can also visualize the cellular repair response. In JoVE Applied Physics, Borisenko et al. determine the electronic structure of complex materials using angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy in a synchotron radiation facility. By combining recent advances in synchotron radiation, surface science, and cryogenics, this method can gain a precise picture of the energy and momentum of electrons inside a solid, and address key questions in the field of condensed matter physics. This preview summarizes just a few of the notable video-articles available in the October 2012 issue of JoVE. For additional videos, please visit www.jove.com.