Summary
The ADA 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:
![Advanced Microscopy - mircobiology](https://forsyth.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/1-5-660x480.jpg)
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.
![Forsyth Core services](https://forsyth.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Half-Page-8-660x480.jpg)
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
![Advanced Microscopy Image Analysis](https://forsyth.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Redesign-dimensions-660x480.jpg)
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