Honorable Mention: Gut Gathering

The picture shows a triple-labeled Drosophila melanogaster stomach (bulbus structure), anterior parts of the midgut and renal tubes. The animal was genetically modified to label the endogenous Drosophila Distracted protein with a fluorescent label. Loss of function mutations of the homologous gene in mammals is associated with obesity, type 2 diabetes and neurodegeneration. The research is about understanding the role of this transmembrane protein in the communication between gut and brain to regulate feeding behavior and neuronal health. The preparation was also labeled with DAPI dye to visualize all nuclei as well as with immunohistochemistry to visualize the gut. The image was taken with a confocal microscope, and the different fluorescent labels were overlayed in different color combinations. The research was supported by the Jupiter Life Sciences and the Office of Undergraduate Research and Inquiry.