Label-free molecular analysis of live Neospora caninum tachyzoites in host cells by selective scanning Raman micro-spectroscopy

Abstract

A selective scanning method was used to measure spatially resolved Raman spectra of live Neospora caninum tachyzoites colonizing human brain microvascular-endothelial cells. The technique allowed the detection of nucleic acids, lipids and proteins linked to the parasites and their cellular micro-environment at ∼10× shorter acquisition time compared to raster scanning.