Illustration of the DNA double helix. The sugar-phosphate backbone of the two complementary strands are visible (red and blue).

Bacterial microbiome mapping, bioartistic experiment

Brain blood vessels, suspected meningitis, 3D printed nylon

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Blood vessels in a female human adult brain, from a patient with suspected bacterial meningitis. The 2D data contained in the patient's MRI scans were converted into 3D renders by the artist who was then able to export them to a printable format so that they could be 3D printed in white nylon by selective laser sintering (SLS). 



Meningitis is the infection of the protective membranes around the brain and spinal cord (meninges) and can be bacterial or viral. Bacterial meningitis can be very severe and if left untreated can cause brain damage and infection of the blood (septicaemia). It can be caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae, group B Streptococcus, Listeria monocytogenes, Haemophilus influenzae and Neisseria meningitidis.



Wellcome Trust photography by Ben Gilbert.

"1000 Handshakes" is a performance piece during which the artist shakes hands with as many people as possible, gradually changing the invisible microbial community in the palm of his hand. Periodically, assistants take a swab from the skin, and the samples are analyzed in the lab to reveal how our contact with others shapes the microbes between us. This ongoing project has been performed in different cities around the world (including Copenhagen, Montreal, San Francisco, Perth, Berlin and Baltimore) as a way to map our collective microbiome using scientific data.



Production of the 'microbiome selfies' involved many different steps. Following the collection of the microbiome samples, bacterial DNA was extracted, amplified and sequenced to create the bioinformatic data shown in this series. The nodes of the networks represent bacterial DNA sequences, and two nodes are connected by an edge (line) when the bacterial DNA sequences have more than 95% similarity. The different colours correspond to distinct samples collected at every 50th handshake, from 0 to 1001. 



This image corresponds to the 12th image in this 21-part series, showing the extensive microbiome resulting from 550 handshakes.

Section of a cell block created from a fine-needle biopsy of an enlarged inguinal (groin) lymph node, showing the presence of Treponema pallidum (syphilis-causing bacteria). The Dieterle stain is one type of stain that can be used to demonstrate the organisms syphilis, and deposits silver on T. pallidum, staining them grey as seen in this image. The bacteria are transmitted through sexual contact or through the placenta during pregnancy. T. pallidum is a subtype of spirochete, so named for their corkscrew or curvy appearance. 



Syphilis is a staged-disease and can present sores, rashes and flu-like symptoms. If left untreated it can cause damage to the heart, brain, nervous system and bones, and even death. Syphilis is treated by antibiotics, most commonly penicillin.

Horizontal image width 675 micrometres

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Spiral

Images

Works

Brain blood vessels, suspected meningitis, 3D printed nylon

Brain blood vessels, suspected meningitis, 3D printed nylon

Bacterial microbiome mapping, bioartistic experiment

Brain blood vessels, suspected meningitis, 3D printed nylon

Spirochete presentation in inguinal lymph node section

Today’s opening times

Wellcome uses cookies.

Spiral

Images

Works

Brain blood vessels, suspected meningitis, 3D printed nylon

Brain blood vessels, suspected meningitis, 3D printed nylon

Bacterial microbiome mapping, bioartistic experiment

Brain blood vessels, suspected meningitis, 3D printed nylon

Spirochete presentation in inguinal lymph node section

Wellcome Collection

Today’s opening times