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Doritos dye makes living tissue transparent, study finds
“For those who understand the fundamental physics behind this, it makes sense; but if you aren’t familiar with it, it looks like a magic trick” – Zihao Ou.
The researchers were able to see through the skin of a mouse.

A dye commonly used in food can make tissue temporarily transparent in living animals, scientists at Stanford University have found.

The discovery could potentially make it easier to see inside the body for those working in veterinary and human medicine.

In a series of experiments, the researchers messaged a solution of water and tartrazine, a dye used in Doritos and other food, onto the scalp, abdomen, and hindlimb of a sedated mouse.

When used on the abdomen, the researchers were able to observe internal organs and muscle contractions in the digestive system through the skin. After it was used on the scalp, the team could observe blood vessels on the brain’s surface, and using it on the hindlimb allowed them to produce high-resolution images of muscle sarcomeres.

Zihao Ou, lead author the study, explained: “It takes a few minutes for the transparency to appear. It’s similar to the way a facial cream or mask works: the time needed depends on how fast the molecules diffuse into the skin.”

When the skin absorbed the dye, the water’s refractive index matched the index of parts of the tissue such as lipids. This lowered the amount of light which was scattered by the skin, allowing the researchers to see through it.

Dr Ou said: “For those who understand the fundamental physics behind this, it makes sense; but if you aren’t familiar with it, it looks like a magic trick.”

After the dye had been washed away, the transparency quickly wore off. Dye that had been absorbed by the skin was metabilised and then excreted in the mouse’s urine.

Although the technique has not yet been tested on humans, whose skin is around 10 times thicker than that of mice, the researchers are hopeful that the discovery could eventually be used in human medicine as well as on animals. In some instances, it could potentially replace X-rays or CT scans.

Dr Ou added: “Many medical diagnosis platforms are very expensive and inaccessible to a broad audience, but platforms based on our tech should not be.”

The study has been published in the journal Science.

Image © Shutterstock

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Antibiotic Amnesty survey opens

News Story 1
 The Responsible Use of Medicines Alliance - Companion Animal and Equine (RUMA - CA&E) has launched a survey which seeks to measure the success of this year's Antibiotic Amnesty campaign.

Its results will help the group to calculate how many unused or out-of-date antibiotics were returned as part of the campaign throughout November. Practices are also asked how they engaged with clients to raise awareness of the issue.

Participating practices can enter a prize draw to win up to 100 in vouchers for taking part. Further prizes from BSAVA and Webinar Vet will be available for practices with the best input.

The survey takes a few minutes to complete and will be running throughout December. It can be accessed via this link

Click here for more...
News Shorts
Avian flu confirmed at premises in Cornwall

A case of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 has been detected in commercial poultry at a premises near Rosudgeon, Cornwall.

All poultry on the infected site will be humanely culled, and a 3km protection zone and 10km surveillance zone have been put in place. Poultry and other captive birds in the 3km protection zone must be housed.

The case is the second avian flu case confirmed in commercial poultry this month. The H5N5 strain was detected in a premises near Hornsea, East Riding of Yorkshire, in early November. Before then, the disease had not been confirmed in captive birds in England since February.

The UK chief veterinary officer has urged bird keepers to remain alert and practise robust biosecurity.

A map of the disease control zones can be found here.