Equipment

Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopes

We hold a broad range of high-end confocal laser scanning microscopes.

For live-cell imaging, we have 2 Leicas SP8 with a white light laser (WLL) source. This allows you to perfectly match the spectral properties of any fluorophore excitable in the visible spectral range. We also have 2 Andor Dragonfly spinning disk confocals for fast live-cell imaging. For intravital imaging, we host a Zeiss LSM 710 NLO at the Centre for Pre-clinical Imaging.

Currently, we have the following confocal setups:

Inverted:

• Leica SP8 WLL
• Leica SP8 WLL
• Andor Dragonfly 500
• Andor Dragonfly 200
• Leica SP5

Upright:

• Leica SP8
• Zeiss LSM 900 Airyscan
• Zeiss LSM 710 NLO

Cryo-Fluorescence Microscopes

For cryo-correlative microscopy we have fluorescence microscopes equipped with special cryo-stages.

One system is set-up for automated cryo-CLEM imaging, capable of performing automated multi-colour, z-stack recording and recording tile-scan overviews. The other system is used to develop super-resolution light microscopy on cryo-samples. Additionally, the LSM 900 Airyscan confocal can also be equipped with a cryo-stage.

• Zeiss Axio Image M2 with Linkam CMS196M cryo-stage
• Leica DM RXA with Linkam THMS 600 freezing stage
• (Zeiss LSM 900 Airyscan with Linkam CMS196 cryo-stage)

High-Content Imaging

For fully automated imaging at many different positions, channels and timepoints, we hold a selection of high-content imagers.

• IncuCyte S3
• ImageXpress Micro Confocal
• CellInsight CX7 LZR

Widefield Microscopes

Whereas confocal microscopes excel in 3D imaging, widefield microscopy is unrivalled in terms of speed and sensitivity.

We have 2 (inverted) microscopes dedicated for live-cell imaging, 3 upright microscopes for (up to 8 channels) multichannel fluorescence, of which one is equipped with a colour camera for brightfield imaging. Furthermore, the 2 Dragonfly systems can also be used for laser-based widefield imaging.

Inverted:

• Leica AF6000
• Leica DMi6000
• (Andor Dragonfly 500)
• (Andor Dragonfly 200)

Upright:

• Leica DM6B (with additional colour camera)
• Leica DM6B
• Leica DMRA

Slidescanners

• 3DHistech Pannoramic 250
• Zeiss Axio Scan.Z1

Stereo Microscopes

• Leica M165 FC

Zeiss Gemini 300 Scanning Electron Microscope

The Zeiss Gemini SEM is a Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope for imaging of microtissues. The microscope is equipped with the Gatan 3View system to image 3D ultrastructure using serial block-face imaging. The system is also equipped with the Zeiss Atlas V system to allow imaging of serial sections in a non-destructive manner.

FEI Tecnai 12 Spirit Biotwin Transmission Electron Microscope

The FEI Tecnai 12 BioTwin is a 120 kV TEM with a LaB6 filament and a FEI Eagle 4k x 4K CCD camera to record high contrast images. The microscope has in-house developed software for automated scanning of specimen grids and is equipped for cryo-electron microscopy and tomography.

FEI Tecnai 12 Spirit Twin Transmission Electron Microscope

The FEI Tecnai 12 Twin is a 120 kV TEM with a LaB6 filament and an FEI Eagle 4k x 4K CCD camera. It is equipped with an integrated laser scanning microscope (iLEM) for correlative light-electron cryo microscopy and a Fischione HAADF STEM detector. Like the other TEMS, this microscope runs in-house developed software for automated scanning of specimen grids and can perform cryo-electron microscopy and tomography.

Thermo Fisher Talos Arctica Cryo Transmission Electron Microscope

The Talos Arctica is a cryo-electron microscope for imaging 3D structures of proteins, viruses, bacteria and cells using single-particle reconstruction and tomographic methods. The Arctica is equipped with a Gatan energy filter, Gatan K3 direct electron detector, Ceta camera and a phase plate.