Strains of M. tuberculosis during infection

Techniques

The Confocal Microscopy and Image Analysis Laboratory (CIAL) specialises in confocal and restoration microscopy for 3 D imaging. Three dimensional imaging is achieved by capturing with the computer a series of optical sections through a specimen. If these optical sections have the out-of-focus light removed, they can then be used to create a 3D image of the specimen.

The confocal method achieves clear optical sections from thick fluorescent specimens by removing the out-of-focus light by using special optics and is more suited for thick specimens such as embryos or tissue slices. The deconvolution method achieves clear optical sections by removing the out-of-focus light computationally and is more suited for thin, small specimens that require the maximum possible sensitivity and resolution.

Our systems are suitable for techniques such as fluorescence recovery after photo bleaching (FRAP) and fluorescence loss in photo bleaching (FLIP), fluorescence resonance energy transfer microscopy (FRET), high resolution colour imaging as well as temperature controlled microscopy of cells and embryos over time.

New methodologies include photoactivation of GFP's, and visualisation, tracking and analysis of single molecules in living cells.

Confocal microscopy imaging

 

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