Piner High School STEM Certification

Data-driven Classification of Cell Subtypes Based on Time-Lapse Microscopy of Single

Cells

Ashley Morales
Presentation Topic: Data-driven Classification of Cell Subtypes Based on Time-Lapse
Microscopy of Single Cells
Presenter: Manasa Kesapragada, UC Santa Cruz
Date: Wednesday, November 8th, 2023

Presentation Summary:

Manasa Kesapragada, UC Santa Cruz introduced single cells based on time-lapse

microscopy, allowing Ms. Kesapragada and her team to track the dynamic response of cellular
processes in real-time. While exploring the dynamics, researchers find it difficult to identify cell
types, cell size and cell shape. These characteristics have been used to characterize cell subtypes,
but quality images that can provide cell morphology, describes the shape, structure, form, and
size of cells. Researchers propose that by motility properties they can map out cell morphology
and hence, cell subtypes.
Suddenly Manasa introduces macrophages, a large phagocytic cell found in stationary
form in the tissues or as a mobile white blood cell, especially at sites of infection. Macrophages
are critical players in our body’s defense and wound healing. Ms. Kesapragada began to explain
how UC Santa Cruz studied macrophages, all its different shapes: Elongated/Bipolar, Multipolar,
and Circular (She included images). Ms. Kesapragada did mention that these cell shapes and
motion change takes three hours of progress to change, these cell shapes are not final. Another
term which is not final is how M0,M1,M2,M3 can change; all these different variables have
different capacities. But these variables can change at any instant, it is not known why yet.
When studying macrophages, there are a GREAT amount of steps to identify different
patterns for cell shapes, methods, input images for analysis andCLAHE: Contrast, Limited,
Adaptive, Histogram, Equalization. When using microscopes to view these cells they prefer to
view them in a gray perspective, Ms. Kesapragada described each gray pixel (intensity) stored as
a byte i.e., 8 bit. Being a Ms. Kesapragada and her team’s shoes is a migraine in my eyes. They
are extremely intelligent.

Reflection:

I personally have never been interested in this type of work. But after seeing all the math
equations like E,C, and S was fascinating. Being able to help our Earth and our people in ways
that may seem in possible. For example this lecture talked about macrophages healing wounds
faster, just with macrophages cells. But Ms. Kesapragada did mention that it takes a GREAT deal
of macrophages cells in order for this to work, 568 cells are NOT enough. How many cells are
enough? Have they tried this experiment before? “Yes” Ms. Kesapragada exclaimed. But her and
her team are not sure if this process only works on animals: mice. Will it work on humans? How
will we test on humans? What is the next step? Ms. Kesapragada answered, “Collective
observation(how cells are communicating).” Though this experiment is fascinating there are
many downsides to it, we do not know yet exactly what they may be. This inclusion of biology in
this lecture has opened another potential career path I may follow in the future.

Related Article:

Daisuke Hirayama, Tomoya Iida, and Hiroshi Nakase “The Phagocytic Function of
Macrophage-Enforcing Innate Immunity and Tissue Homeostasis” 29 Dec. 2017,
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Macrophages are effector cells of the innate immune system that phagocytose bacteria
and secrete both pro-inflammatory and antimicrobial mediators. Macrophages can be found in
almost all organs in the body, including the liver, brain, bones, and lungs; they have specific
functions in each organ. In addition, macrophages play an important role in eliminating diseased
and damaged cells through their programmed cell death. Generally, macrophages ingest and
degrade dead cells, debris, tumor cells, and foreign materials. Additionally, phagocytosis plays a
critical role in that process. Keywords: macrophages, innate immunity, phagocytosis
 The innate immune system destroys and excludes pathogens during early stages of the
infection. Innate immunity is native to humans and indispensable for the maintenance of life.
Macrophages, the major population of tissue-resident mononuclear phagocytes, play key roles in
bacterial recognition and elimination as well as in polarization of innate and adaptive immunity.
Macrophages sometimes play a role in anti-inflammatory responses, tissue repair, and
homeostasis while they sometimes promote inflammation and tumor growth.
I thought this article brought up some important points that I was not aware of,
expressing ALL the purpose of macrophages. I as a highschool student am yet to learn all the
factors of this process. They also did clarify the phagocytic mechanism of macrophages
associated with abnormal inflammation and cancer immunity will contribute to the elucidation of
several human diseases. Overall, our scientists are dedicated to their studies and us as a
community have yet to learn the long and difficult journey of macrophages for our future.