Tetrahymena oral apparatus

May 07, 2018 • 7:19 PM UTC

Ithaca, NY, USA

140x Magnification

Microorganisms

RebeccaKonte

Scientific artist, using art as a tool for scientific storytelling. http://www.rebeccakonte.com/

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I prepared a slide with a PVC microwell sticker & a droplet of water containing Tetrahymena . This video looks at one well in particular, in which a large air bubble pressed a small water droplet to one side, condensing it into a crescent moon shape. The Tetrahymena within the water seem eager to escape.
In the video above, you’ll see several squeezed under the sticker and essentially immobilized. In this state, I noticed a flurry of cilia on each one. I knew the organisms are covered in cilia, but these small areas appeared particularly dense, so I suspected it was their oral apparatuses. Yet, I was not as confident in this until your most recent post, Laks! Thanks for the inspiration. (Linked below)
Later in the video, I pan upward along the crescent where you can see more Tetrahymena swimming about and seemingly trying to pry underneath the sticker. Initially, I thought the ones fixed under the sticker leaked there as I was preparing the slide. But after seeing the other ones who are half underneath or seemingly trying to budge in, I was not sure! I found this interesting.
Imaging Tetrahymena thermophila cilia

Until next time,
Rebecca