Summary
The Forsyth Institute Advanced Microscopy Core maintains three light microscopes and one electron microscope listed below for use by interested researchers and offers the following services:
Mission
To provide researchers access to high-tech microscopy instrumentation through user training, assisted use, support for image processing, and consultation on sample preparation and experiment design.
Services Offered
- Imaging and analysis of many sample types.
- Training and assisting users with sample preparation, imaging, and image analysis.
- Consulting and support services associated with imaging and analysis of many sample types and accommodates for a variety of advanced imaging techniques including:
- Imaging cleared tissue with CLARITY system
- Airyscan for fast, high-resolution imaging
- Time lapse and live cell imaging
- Bacteria labelling with Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH)
- Multiplexed confocal imaging of up to 10 fluorophores simultaneously
Equipment
Zeiss Axio Observer inverted microscope
Ideal for fluorescence-labeled or unlabeled samples, live cell imaging, and tile scanning of large tissues.
Axio Observer – Widefield
- Inverted, fully automated microscope
- Transmitted light (brightfield, DIC, phase contrast, polarized light) – probes/dyes not necessary
- Epifluorescence with 4 filter sets (blue, green, red, far-red)
- 2 fluorescence light sources: Colibri.2 LED and HXP 120 V
- Hamamatsu Orca-Flash4 camera – unstained samples & fluorescence
- Zeiss Axiocam 712 Color camera – light absorbing dyes (eg. H+E) & polarized light
- 6 high-quality objectives 10x-100x
- Temperature/CO2 chamber – live cell
- Time-lapse – visualize time-dependent processes
- Tile scanning – image large areas
Zeiss LSM 780 confocal inverted microscope
The facility’s workhorse and is used for imaging thicker specimens, 3D structures, and many overlapping fluorophores.
- Inverted, fully automated fluorescence microscope
- Optical sectioning
- 7 excitation lasers between 405-633nm
- Emission detectors 400-800nm
- Transmission detector -brightfield & DIC
- Spectral imaging & separation of up to 10 probes simultaneously
- 4 high-quality objectives 10x-63x
- Temperature/CO2 chamber – live cell
- Time-lapse – visualize time-dependent processes
- Tile scanning – image large areas
- Z-stacks – 3D structure & analysis
Zeiss LSM 880 confocal upright microscope
Is ideal for imaging cleared samples and for gaining higher resolution.
- Upright fluorescence microscope
- Optical sectioning
- 7 excitation lasers between 405-633nm
- Emission detectors 400-800nm
- Transmission detector – brightfield
- Airyscan detector for higher resolution and faster imaging
- 1.7x higher resolution and 4-8x higher signal compared to traditional confocal
- FAST mode for 4x faster acquisition
- 5 high-quality objectives 10x-63x
- 20x/1.0 for imaging cleared specimens (RI=1.45), eg. CLARITY
- Temperature housing
- Time-lapse, Tile scanning, Z-stacks
Zeiss EVO 10 Scanning Electron Microscope
Is ideal for gaining high resolution topographic images.
- Variable temperature, pressure, humidity for imaging biological samples
- Tungsten electron source
- Resolution >3nm (30kV SE)
- Acceleration voltage: 0.2-30kV
- Probe current: 0.5pA-5mA
- Magnification: < 0.01 Pa
- Variable pressure (VP): 10-400 Pa
- Extended pressure (EP): 10-3000 Pa
- Mid-column apertures: 20, 30, and 100 mm
- Pressure limiting apertures for VP and EP
- Detectors: Everhart-Thornley SE, VPSE, EPSE
- 4-Quadrant Backscatter electron detector
- Oxford X-Max 50mm2 for EDS (X-ray)
- 9 specimen sample holder
- Cooling stage: -30 to 50 °C
Image Analysis
The Core provides access to an offline workstation equipped with Imaris Microscopy Image Analysis Software and other open source software for conducting image processing and analysis
Additional Information:
- How to choose the right core microscope
- Acknowledging the Core:
- If you publish data obtained through the core, please cite in the methods or acknowledgements: “Microscopy images were acquired at the Forsyth Institute Advanced Microscopy Core Facility (RRID:SCR_021121).”
- Contact core for assistance with methods
Zeiss Axio Observer inverted microscope
Zeiss LSM 780 confocal inverted microscope
Zeiss LSM 880 confocal upright microscope
Zeiss EVO 10 Scanning Electron Microscope
Contact
microscopy@forsyth.org
