Wide field microscope for live cell microscopy

• Subject Area: Basic Research in Biology and Medicine
• Term: Funded in 2020
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 450993414

The device applied for is to be used in a wide range of biological, medical and biomaterials research. With this technology, it will be possible for the first time to address questions, especially in living systems (cells, organoids, tissue sections and biomaterials), which were previously only possible by combining different technologies. It is now possible to take images in living samples with high penetration depth and high resolution, very fast (spatially & temporally) and gentle on the sample, over long periods of time. This will be applied to organoids of different species (murine, human) and origin (intestinal, neuronal, ovarian) to investigate different questions in spatial and temporal dimensions. Calcium homeostasis and glutamate release in neuronal organoids, inflammatory processes in intestinal organoids or the distribution and regulation of transcription factors such as Sox-11 or TCF4 in neuronal organoids. Studies in tumor tissue sections from xeno-graft mice. The investigation of protein distributions in planta, i.e. roots, stems and leaves. Another application is planned in the field of biomaterial research on follicles in three-dimensional matrices. The establishment of barrier integrity assays on different organoid models is another focus.

• DFG Programme: Major Research Instrumentation
• Major Instrumentation: 3D Weitfeld Mikroskop für Lebendzell Mikroskopie
• Instrumentation Group: 5000 Labormikroskope
• Applicant Institution: Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg
• Leader: Dr. Ralf Palmisano