From the first observations of pancreatic islets by Paul Langerhans to the elegant functional studies of beta cells by Lelio Orci with electron microscopy towards in vivo and super resolution microscopy today, imaging approaches have been key methods to understand the function of beta cells in health and disease. As evidence for dysfunction of existing beta cells especially in the onset of diabetes is increasing novel imaging tools that enable 3- and 4D understanding of beta cells within the context of the pancreatic islet and even the whole organism are becoming more and more important. Novel chemical probes and tags allow unprecedented insights into beta cell cargo and receptors. Concurrently, increasing amounts of imaging data call for more advanced automated tools for their analysis.
With this research topic we aim to cover imaging approaches that enable a better understanding of beta cell function and provide insights into the pathology of diabetes. We furthermore would like to present tools that help to analyze image data in beta cell research.
Topics include:
• Imaging of beta cells in health and disease with light and electron microscopy methods
• Correlative approaches to understand beta cell function
• Live-cell imaging of primary beta cells, insulinoma cell lines or stem-cell-derived beta cells
• Probes for beta cell imaging
• Image analysis tools including machine learning
• Imaging beta cells in their native environment
We welcome original research articles and review papers, which deal with topics related to imaging and image analysis of beta cells.
**The Topic Editor retains copyright for cover image created by Dr. Deborah Schmidt**
From the first observations of pancreatic islets by Paul Langerhans to the elegant functional studies of beta cells by Lelio Orci with electron microscopy towards in vivo and super resolution microscopy today, imaging approaches have been key methods to understand the function of beta cells in health and disease. As evidence for dysfunction of existing beta cells especially in the onset of diabetes is increasing novel imaging tools that enable 3- and 4D understanding of beta cells within the context of the pancreatic islet and even the whole organism are becoming more and more important. Novel chemical probes and tags allow unprecedented insights into beta cell cargo and receptors. Concurrently, increasing amounts of imaging data call for more advanced automated tools for their analysis.
With this research topic we aim to cover imaging approaches that enable a better understanding of beta cell function and provide insights into the pathology of diabetes. We furthermore would like to present tools that help to analyze image data in beta cell research.
Topics include:
• Imaging of beta cells in health and disease with light and electron microscopy methods
• Correlative approaches to understand beta cell function
• Live-cell imaging of primary beta cells, insulinoma cell lines or stem-cell-derived beta cells
• Probes for beta cell imaging
• Image analysis tools including machine learning
• Imaging beta cells in their native environment
We welcome original research articles and review papers, which deal with topics related to imaging and image analysis of beta cells.
**The Topic Editor retains copyright for cover image created by Dr. Deborah Schmidt**