A simple optical configuration for cell tracking by dark-field microscopy

Vlatka Antolović; Maja Marinović; Vedrana Filić; Igor Weber

doi:10.1016/j.mimet.2014.06.006

A simple optical configuration for cell tracking by dark-field microscopy

J Microbiol Methods. 2014 Sep:104:9-11. doi: 10.1016/j.mimet.2014.06.006. Epub 2014 Jun 17.

Authors

Vlatka Antolović¹, Maja Marinović², Vedrana Filić³, Igor Weber⁴

Affiliations

¹ Division of Molecular Biology, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Bijenička 54, HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia. Electronic address: vlatka.antolovic@irb.hr.
² Division of Molecular Biology, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Bijenička 54, HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia. Electronic address: maja.marinovic@irb.hr.
³ Division of Molecular Biology, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Bijenička 54, HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia. Electronic address: vedrana.filic@irb.hr.
⁴ Division of Molecular Biology, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Bijenička 54, HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia. Electronic address: iweber@irb.hr.

PMID: 24950007
DOI: 10.1016/j.mimet.2014.06.006

Abstract

We describe a simple optical configuration for dark-field microscopy at low magnification, realized with the use of standard microscope components. An inherent high contrast makes this method attractive for computer-assisted tracking and counting of microorganisms. We applied this setup for dark-field microscopy to measure the speed of migrating Dictyostelium amoebae.

Keywords: Annular aperture; Cell migration; Dark-field microscopy; Dictyostelium discoideum; Long-working-distance condenser; Tracking.

Publication types

Evaluation Study
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Cell Movement
Cell Tracking / instrumentation
Cell Tracking / methods*
Dictyostelium / cytology*
Microscopy / methods*