Microscopy and Image Analysis
Classical, fluorescence and confocalMultispectral Microscopy - Akoya Vectra Polaris
An Akoya Vectra Polaris demo system is currently available for use in the Lighthouse Core Facility.
The Akoya Vectra Polaris is a multispectral, automated slide scanning system capable of measuring fluorescence multiplexing (up to 9-12 colors) samples, for tissue sections and slides.
The Polaris system uses linear unmixing to spectrally separate fluorophores and tissue autofluorescence into distinct channels. The system is optimized for use with Akoya's Opal dyes, but it is compatible with most standard fluorophores and can also work with multiple combinations of these dyes. Single stained samples can be used to create a spectral library, in which the system generates reference spectra for spectral unmixing.
The system in the Lighthouse Core Facility is a demo system, which has been made available to Freiburg researchers for a period of six months, through the generous support of the team at Akoya.
Lighthouse has Opal test kits available for you to try out. In addition, Dr. Björn Wendik and his team at Akoya are also available to help you get started using the system, along with being able to offer guidance and tips as to the best way to prepare and stain your samples.
For more information about the system or to give it a try, please contact the Lighthouse Core Facility.
Examples of images acquired using the Lighthouse Akoya system can be found below:
Confocal Microscopy
Lighthouse has three spectral confocal microscopes available for use:
- Zeiss LSM 880 with AiryScan
- Zeiss LSM 710
- Leica TCS SP2 AOBS
More information about the confocal microscopes
High Content Screening (HCS) / Image Cytometry
In the areas of HCS / Image Cytometry / Automated Microscopy Lighthouse has an:
- Olympus Scan^R High Content Screening Station
More information about the Scan^R system
Long-Term Live Cell Imaging
The Incucyte S3 is an automated microscope located within a standard cell culture incubator and is of particular interest for low resolution, long-term, live cell imaging. It allows the independent measurement and analysis of up to 6 plates or experiments at the same time. It is the method of choice for long-term observation of spheroid and organoid development.
More information about Incucyte long-term live cell imaging...
Other Systems
Lighthouse also has several smaller microscope systems:
| Zeiss AxioImager M2m | Upright Microscope for immunohistochemistry and fluorescence Configuration |
| Zeiss AxioObserver.Z1 / Apotome | Inverted fluorescence microscope,with climate chamber and motorized stage Configuration |
| Zeiss Discovery.V8 | Stereomicroscope |
Image Analysis
Several workstations are available for offline analysis. Available software includes:
- AutoQuant / AutoDeblur - Deconvolution and 3D Reconstruction
- Metamorph - Image Analysis
- Zeiss Zen Blue / Black
- Olympus Scan^R analysis with AI module
- Imaris - 3D reconstruction & analysis
- Cell Profiler
- ImageJ / FiJi