Microscopy

Epi-fluorescence optical microscopy

The LMGM has an inverted Nikon TI-E/B widefield microscope, dedicated to the detection in space and time of “small objects” with low fluorescent signal.

microscope microfluidic platform

This microscope carries a 100X magnification “CFI  Apochromat Lambda “ oil immersion objective reducing chromatic aberrations. The phase rings present in the lens and in the condenser allow acquisitions in phase contrast for prokaryotic cells. (Numerical aperture 1.45 / Working distance: 0.17mm).

Specific filters and SpectraX LED illumination system (Lumencor) enable the detection of weak and scalable fluorescence signals for time-lapse observations over several hours/days, without damaging biological samples.

The images are captured using a high-resolution camera, Neo 5.5 sCMOS (Andor), allowing the observation of structural details of a few hundred nanometers.

The microscope is fully motorized and controlled by the Nis Element Advance Research (Nikon) software. Several elements have been brought to ensure the stability of the device and to limit the drifts in the xyz axes during time-lapse acquisitions : an anti-vibration table, a thermostatic chamber (adjustable from room temperature to 37°C), a stage with encoder and especially a z-drift correction system developed by Nikon (Perfect Focus System : PFS).

microscopy microfluidic platform

An ONIX Cell Asic microfluidic platform is also integrated to the microscope. It enables dynamic experiments during cell growth with an accurate control of several factors : media, inducer factors, drugs, etc. 

The Cell Asic design plates allows the immobilization and the growth monitoring of many bacteria, that way many species were tested at the lab : E.coli, S.pneumoniae, P.naphtelenivorans, C.crescentus, etc.

Ecoli triple labeling fluorecence

Access to this microscope is valid after a traineeship under supervision of Jerome RECH.

Contact : Jérôme RECH – Email  – 05 61 33 59 28