Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 13, 2026

Visualization of Cortex Organization and Dynamics in Microorganisms, using Total Internal Reflection Fluorescence Microscopy
Published on: May 1, 2012
Label-free functional analysis of root-associated microbes with dynamic quantitative oblique back-illumination
Caroline E Serafini1, Madison Green2, Abigail Diering3
1George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 30318, USA.
Dynamic quantitative oblique back-illumination microscopy (DqOBM) reveals microbial dynamics in nitrogen-fixing bacteria and plant roots. This label-free imaging technology aids sustainable agriculture by visualizing plant-microbe interactions.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Plant Science
- Microscopy
Background:
- Sustainable agriculture requires alternatives to synthetic fertilizers.
- Nitrogen-fixing bacteria (diazotrophs) can convert atmospheric nitrogen into plant-usable forms.
- Understanding plant-microbe interactions is crucial for optimizing nitrogen fixation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce and validate dynamic quantitative oblique back-illumination microscopy (DqOBM) for assessing diazotroph activity.
- To investigate microbial dynamics in vitro and in situ.
- To provide insights into plant-microbe interactions for sustainable agriculture.
Main Methods:
- Utilized DqOBM, a label-free 3D quantitative phase imaging technique.
- Cultured three diazotroph species (Sinorhizobium meliloti, Azotobacter vinelandii, Rahnella aquatilis) with varying nutrient amendments.
- Applied DqOBM to visualize microbial dynamics in Arabidopsis thaliana root systems.
Main Results:
- Observed increased bacterial dynamics in nutrient-amended media over 5 days, correlating with metabolic activity.
- Successfully visualized microbial infiltration within Arabidopsis thaliana root caps and elongation zones.
- Identified distinct areas of microbial colonization without fluorescent markers.
Conclusions:
- DqOBM is an effective tool for characterizing microbial dynamics and metabolic activity.
- The technology enables label-free visualization of plant-microbe interactions in situ.
- DqOBM can advance research in sustainable agriculture and nitrogen-fixing bacteria.
More Related Videos
09:45A New Method for Qualitative Multi-scale Analysis of Bacterial Biofilms on Filamentous Fungal Colonies Using Confocal and Electron Microscopy
Published on: January 25, 2017
09:31Visualization of Gut Microbiota-host Interactions via Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization, Lectin Staining, and Imaging
Published on: July 9, 2021
Related Concept Videos
Imaging Biological Samples with Optical Microscopy
In optical microscopy, the specimen to be viewed is placed on a glass slide and clipped on the stage...
Confocal Fluorescence Microscopy
Two-Dimensional Microscopy in Microbiology
Three-Dimensional Microscopy in Microbiology
Microbial Morphologies
Methods to Assess Microbial Populations