A stunning shot showing abnormal movement of lung cells on microscopic imaging

A stunning video documenting the precise movement of the cells of a child with a rare genetic disorder has won the 16th Nikon Small World in Motion competition. Researcher Ning Xu from Tsinghua University in Beijing, China, using an advanced microscopic imaging tool, observed abnormal movement of respiratory cilia (hair-like structures that protrude from cells inside the human body) in a child with a condition known as “primary ciliary dyskinesia” (PCD).

Normally, these cilia line the respiratory tract and move in coordinated waves that remove mucus and impurities from the lungs. In people with primary ciliary dyskinesia, these filamentous structures may move abnormally, which hinders the process of clearing the respiratory tract and contributes to recurrent infections in the respiratory system.

“To understand this disease, we need to observe movement for about 10 seconds, not just look at a still image,” explained Xu, an optical engineer who develops advanced imaging systems to help scientists understand complex cellular structures by monitoring their movement, in a press release issued Wednesday. “When people see the movement of cilia, they immediately realize that something beautiful and important is happening inside us,” Shaw added.

“I believe this competition turns microscopic photography into a common language.” The competition celebrates technological advances in microscopic photography and welcomes entries from anyone with an interest in photography or videography.

This year, the competition received 347 entries from 40 countries, and was judged by a committee composed of specialists in science and the field of advanced optical microscopy. “Xu’s work and the work of all winners reflect the competition’s ongoing goal of arousing wonder, stimulating discovery, and highlighting the artistic side of scientific exploration,” Eric Flem, senior director of communications and CRM at Nikon Instruments, said in the release.

Second place went to Nguyen Nam Nhat for a video showing a tiny roundworm and a single-celled organism, the Dileptus species, while third place went to Benedict Player for a video of jellyfish larvae suspended in water droplets. Fourth place went to Andrew Moore, who documented the simultaneous division of adjacent cells, while Patrick Hickey won fifth place with a video showing the dynamics of mitochondria (green) and chloroplasts (red) inside the cells of Turtle Vine leaves.