First Prize: Louisa Snape, UCL

‘Neuromuscular junctions’

The confocal image depicts neuromuscular junctions in mouse lumbrical muscles taken to investigate synaptic stability and function within peripheral neuropathies. Motor neurons are visualised with labelling of microtubules and pre-synaptic terminals (βIII-tubulin and synaptophysin1, green) and supporting myelinated Schwann cells (S100β, blue). Post-synaptic terminals are stained with α-bungarotoxin (nAChRs, pink).

‘Cellular blossom‘

These are melanoma cells stained for the adhesion protein Vinculin, actin filaments, and the nucleus. They are arranged into the shape of a cherry blossom, a traditional flower during the Lunar New Year celebration in Vietnam.

‘Distended Tubule‘

Confocal image of a malformed adult Drosophila Malpighian tubule. Actin (blue) reveals a distorted, misshapen lumen, accompanied by enlarged nuclei (red) containing dispersed DNA (orange).