Label-Free Optical Transmission Tomography for Direct Mycological Examination and Monitoring of Intracellular...

Area of Science:

• Biophysics
• Mycology
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Live-cell imaging typically relies on fluorophore labeling.
• Current methods may not be optimal for direct mycological examination.
• Invasive fungal infections require rapid and accurate diagnosis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce dynamic full-field optical transmission tomography (D-FF-OTT) for label-free live-cell fungal imaging.
• To assess D-FF-OTT's capability for high-resolution imaging of fungal structures.
• To explore D-FF-OTT for monitoring intracellular processes in fungi.

Main Methods:

• Application of dynamic full-field optical transmission tomography (D-FF-OTT).
• Imaging of fungal species including *Candida albicans*, *Aspergillus fumigatus*, and *Rhizopus arrhizus*.
• Label-free, high-resolution live-cell microscopy.

Main Results:

• D-FF-OTT precisely examined elementary fungal structures.
• The technique identified key fungal species responsible for infections.
• Intracellular trafficking of organelles and vesicles was visualized in living fungi.

Conclusions:

• D-FF-OTT is the first light interference-based technique for direct mycological examination.
• This method offers high-resolution, label-free live-cell imaging of fungi.
• D-FF-OTT opens new perspectives for rapid fungal infection diagnostics.