Online Image Analysis of Jurkat T Cells using in situ Microscopy

Abstract: Cell cultivation in bioreactors would benefit from developed monitoring systems with online real-time imaging to evaluate cell culture conditions and processes. This opportunity can be provided with the newly developed in situ Microscope also called ISM. The ISM probe is mounted into the wall of a bioreactor and consists of a measurement zone with an illuminating light source to obtain real-time images of moving cells in suspension. The instrument is linked to advanced imaging analysis software which can be specifically adapted for the objects in study. The aim of this project is to analyze the T lymphocyte cell line Jurkat T cells using the ISM equipment and identify specific features of the cells that can be obtained. The results show that the equipment and linked software are suitable for monitoring cell density, cell size distribution and cell surface analysis of the Jurkat cells during cultivation. The ISM could also detect induced changes in cell size caused by osmotic shifts and the course of an infection occurring in the cell suspension using a developed software for online real-time monitoring.