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Trackoscope: A low-cost, open, autonomous tracking microscope for long-term observations of microscale organisms
Priya Soneji1, Elio J Challita1, Saad Bhamla2
1George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, United States of America.
Plos One
|July 11, 2024
Summary
Trackoscope, a novel autonomous tracking microscope, enables high-resolution, long-term observation of motile microorganisms across large areas. This cost-effective system overcomes limitations of traditional microscopes, facilitating new insights into microbial behavior and biomechanics.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Biophysics
- Microscopy
Background:
- Conventional microscopes limit long-term behavioral and biomechanical analysis of motile cells due to trade-offs between focus area and resolution.
- Investigating rapidly motile organisms like ciliates is challenging due to confinement in small volumes, altering natural behavior.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce Trackoscope, a 2-axis autonomous tracking microscope for comprehensive, high-resolution, long-term observation of motile microorganisms.
- To overcome the limitations of traditional microscopy in studying organismal behavior in larger, more natural environments.
Main Methods:
- Development of a 2-axis autonomous tracking microscope (Trackoscope) capable of covering a 325cm² area.
- High-resolution imaging of swimming organisms (10μm to 2mm) for extended durations (hours to days).
Main Results:
- Trackoscope successfully captured diverse behaviors of various microorganisms, including Amoeba, Actinosphaerium, Tardigrada, and Blepharisma.
- Demonstrated capability for long-term, high-resolution tracking of motile organisms in larger observation areas.
Conclusions:
- Trackoscope provides a cost-effective, versatile solution for studying microbial motility and behavior in more realistic ecosystems.
- The open-architecture system democratizes scientific discovery by enabling access to previously inaccessible small aquatic organisms and their dynamics.
