As Core Facility for light microscopy, the Unit provides a selection of advanced light microscopy systems, equipment for sample preparation and maintenance prior to imaging, and resources for the subsequent processing of the image data.

The Unit personnel assists researchers in the planning of light microscopy experiments and provides the in-depth training for the operation of the microscopes and for specific imaging techniques. Additionally, support is provided in the processing, rendering and analysis of the acquired datasets. If needed, custom analysis routines will be designed.

Applications:

• Super-resolution microscopy (Stimulated emission depletion (STED) ; Stochastic Optical Reconstruction Microscopy (STORM); Ground State Depletion, GSD )
• Two photon microscopy
• Confocal microscopy
• Multi-position imaging
• EM-CCD microscopy (i.e. single molecule)
• Total Internal Reflection Fluorescence (TIRF) microscopy
• Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging Microscopy (FLIM)
• Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy (FCS)
• Fluorescence Lifetime Correlated Spectroscopy (FLCS)
• Photobleaching experiments
• Automated widefield imaging
• High content screening (HCS)
• Environmental control for in-vivo imaging
• Microinjection
• Microdissection
• Image processing and analysis

Technologies: The unit provides a number of advanced light microscopy systems, equipment for sample preparation and maintenance prior to imaging and resources for the subsequent processing of the image data. Available systems:

• Super-resolution in 3D, multicolor with 592, 660 and 775 STED depletion lines and gated-STED
  • Leica TCS SP8 STED 3X with 2 HyDs, a white laser and a dedicated Huygens STED deconvolution license
• Multi-line TIRF/Super-resolution Microscopy: Leica GSD Ground State Depletion Microscope
• Nikon N-STORM 4.0 Microscope for 2D-and 3D-STORM imaging with 405, 488, 561 and 647 lasers

• 6 Confocal microscopes:
  • Leica TCS SP8 (inverted) with a HyD
  • Leica TCS SP5 II CW-STED (inverted) with two HyDs
  • Leica TCS SP5 AOBS (inverted)
  • Leica TCS SP5 CFS (upright) with 2 NDDs
  • Leica TCS SPE (inverted)
  • Andor Revolution XD Spinning Disk Microscope
• Automated Widefield Fluorescence Microscope
  • Zeiss Cell Observer HS with Eppendorf microinjector (for cells) and microdissector
  • ImageXpress Micro Widefield High-Content Analysis System
• 1 Macro Zoom Fluorescence Microscope: Olympus MVX10
• 2 Image processing workstations, equipped with Imaris, Huygens and a selection of other image processing and analysis programs
• 1 Fast response mini stage temperature controller for control of sample temperature between 4-42ºC and for rapid switches between temperatures
• 1 objective inverter