Optical microscopy is one of the largest and most widespread research tools in biology. It includes multiple methods for both intravital and postmortal research of the supramolecular level biological objects such as tissues samples, cell cultures, whole few-celled organisms, etc. Our research center provides various modern microscopy equipment and technologies including confocal and two-photon microscopy, super-resolution methods, special optical methods such as detection of single fluorescent molecules, determination of the concentration of different substances in the living cells, determination of the diffusion rate of the biomolecules, etc. For the living cell research our center also provides micromanipulation, mass analysis and cell sorting on the flow cytometer. Apart from analytic equipment, our center offers different software for morphometry and data processing.
Confocal Microscopy
Scanning confocal microscope Leica TCS SP5
The Leica TCS SP5 is a laser-confocal microscope designed on the basis on the inverted mictoscope Leica DMI6000 for the visualization of the spatial structure of the living as well as fixed tissue samples up to 200 µm in depth. However, for the tissue samples with depth above 80 – 100 µm, two-photon microscopy is recommended to be used. The Leica TCS SP5 provides the full range of scan speeds and the highest resolution. The instrument allows to make optical tissue sample sections both in the plane and in depth, thus making it possible to create 3D reconstruction of the specimen. For more information visit www.leica-microsystems.com.
Scanning confocal microscope with multi-photon excitation Leica TCS SP5 MP
The Leica TCS SP5 MP comprises confocal microscope and multiphoton system and is designed for deep imaging and spesial imaging methods. The microscope is equipped with two-photon and "white" lasers covering almost all confocal and multiphoton applications. For more information visit www.leica-microsystems.com.
Leica TCS STED CW Super-resolution System
The Leica STED-CW is the complementary device to the confocal microscope providing nanoscopic research level. The device allows to study living cells with the dot pattern of 512 x 512 dots, with the up to 18 frames/ sec speed and with the resolution up to 80 nm; to study living cells a number of fluorescen proteins could be used, such as Citrine, YFP, etc.; to study fixed material with the resolution up to 80 nm conventional fluorescent dyes such as Alexa 488, FITC and Oregon Green could be used; to use singe molecule detection technique for the reduction of the excitation spot in the lateral plane up to 80nm. For more information visit www.leica-microsystems.com.
Fluorescence Lifetime Correlation Spectroscopy System Leica TCS SMD FLCS
Leica TCS SMD FLCS is the complementary device for the confocal microscope providing FLIM (Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging) measurements in the combination with the FCS (Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy). The device allows single molecule detection (SMD), fluorescence attenuation with FLIM, fluorescence anisotropy measuring, fluorescence correlation and cross-correlation spectroscopy measuring, etc. For more information visit www.leica-microsystems.com.
Leica Pulsed White Light Laser (WLL)
Leica WLL is the complementary system to the confocal microscope allowing fine tuning of fluorochrome excitation wavelengths resulting in the minimum cross-excitation and specimen damage. The system provides spectral specimen scanning with the excitation wavelength acquiring; phototoxicity reduce; fluorescence attenuation imaging (FLIM) with the excitation within 470–670 nm; precise spectral discrimination of fluorochromes with nearby emission spectra; etc. For more information visit www.leica-microsystems.com.
Spinning Disk Confocal Microscope Zeiss Cell Observer SD
The Cell Observer Spinning Disk (Nipkow Disk) confocal microscope is designed to study quickly proceeding processes inside the living cell. In contrast to the scanning laser confocal microscopy, spinning disk confocal microscopy allows to reach high speed scanning with decent contrast and minimized phototoxicity. The instrument provides all types of applications requiring sensitivity and speed in the trade-off the resolution, such as high-speed imaging of the dynamic processes in cells, time-lapse imaging with low phototoxicity, etc. For more information visit microscopy.zeiss.com.
Wide Field Microscopy
Fully Automated Inverted Fluorescence Microscope for Biomedical Research Leica DMI6000 B
The Leica DMI6000 is an inverted fluorescence microscope equipped with microhandling system providing micromanipulations and structured illumination system OptiGrid providing ultra-high-contrast. The microscope allows to perform dual excitation ratiometric investigations with two-excitation maximum fluorescent dyes such as FURA2, BCECF; transmitted light sample analyses with different types of contrasting, such as bright field, dark field, phase-contrast, polarization, integrated modulation contrast, differential interference contrast; epifluorescence sample analysis; 3D-fluorescence imaging; etc. For specifications visit www.leica-microsystems.com.
Automated Upright Microscope for Life Science Research Leica DMI4000 B
The Leica DMI4000 is a research microscope allowing to perform a wide range of science-research investigations with different contrasting methods. It can be equipped with customers accessories based on application needs. For more information visit www.leica-microsystems.com.
Inverted Laboratory Microscope with LED Illumination Leica DM IL LED
The microscope is used for for cell and tissue culture, micromanipulation, and live cell examinations. It is equipped with 5W LED illumination without heating and big working spaces with special holders for culture flasks. The instrument allows to perform contrast method analyses. Additionally, the microscope is equipped with the fluorescence illumination. For specifications visit www.leica-microsystems.com.
Modular Routine Stereo Microscope Leica M80
Routine Stereo Microscope Leica M80 is characterized by the large field of view, increased depth of focus and improved resolution with 8:1 zoom, and equipped with the RGB camera and 0.8x plan apochromat lens providing 5,04х – 32х magnification. For more information visit www.leica-microsystems.com.
Stereo Microscope Leica M125
The Leica M125 is equipped with fully apochromatic corrected optics with 12.5:1 zoom. It provides detailed, high contrast imaging and wide sample overview with the resolution of 1.15µm. For more information visit .
Automated Fluorescence Stereo Microscope Leica M205 FA
The Leica FA is a fully motorized universal stereo microscope allowing to study fluorescence in tissues sections, embryos, etc. The microscope is designed on the basis of the TripleBeam and FusionOptics technology with 0.63x and 1.6x lens and full apochromatic 20.5:1 zoom providing high resolution with up to 256х magnification and high depth of field. For more information visit www.leica-microsystems.com.
Microinstrument Manufacturing Equipment:
Sutter Instruments P-1000 Micropipette Puller
The P-1000 is a horizontal automated puller designed for preparation of 0.06 – 3 µm tipped glass micropipettes and microelectrodes which can be used for intracellular registrations, patch clamp, microinjections and micro perfusions. For specifications visit www.sutter.com.
Sutter Instruments BV-10 Microelectrode Beveler
The BV-10 is a microelectrode beveling device. It is equipped with the stereo microscope and provides beveling of micropipette tips between 0.1 and 100µm. For specifications visit www.sutter.com.
Narishige MF-900 Microforge
The Narishige MF-900 microforge provides making different kinds of glass microtools for micro surgical and micro electrode investigations by processing micropipette tips. The device is equipped with three-dimensionally manipulated stereo microscope and allows to polish and bend glass microtools. For more information visit www.narishige-group.com.
Laser Microdissection
Leica LMD7000 Laser Microdissection System
Leica LMD laser microdissection system provides laser-based microscopic dissection of regions of interests of biological samples with the precision of single cell from all types of tissues and cell cultures, and subsequent contamination-free collection of the homogeneous ultra-pure sample. For specifications visit www.leica-microsystems.com.
Flow Cytometry
BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company) FACSAria III Cell Sorter
FACSAria III is a benchtop research flow cytometer being at the same time cell analyzer and cell sorter. Being equipped with three lasers (405nm, 488nm and 633 nm) it provides multicolor analysis of different types of separated cells or particles with the detection of up to 13 fluorescent markers and 2 scatter parameters at a time. The instrument allows to identify individual classes and populations of cells and measure their surface and intracellular markers; to estimate functional states of cells (mitochondrion potential, intracellular calcium concentration, pH, etc.) using special ratiometric stains such as FDA, DiOC1, JC -1, etc.; to perform cell cycle analysis; to study apoptosis, phagocytosis, kinetics of cell processes; to perform molecular-genetic analyses using fluorescence probes; etc. For specifications visit www.bdbiosciences.com.
Cell Culture Cutivation Unit
Laminar boxes, Autoclave chambers, Cell counters, Cryo storages, etc.
Bio-Rad Gene Pulser Xcell Electroporation System
The Gene Pulser Xcell system is a modular electroporation system composed of the main unit, the cuvette chamber, the capacitance extender and the pulse controller. The instrument allows to transfect all cell types from primary and stem cells to bacteria and yeast. For specifications visit www.bio-rad.com.
Inverted Laboratory Microscope with LED Illumination Leica DM IL LED
The microscope is used for for cell and tissue culture, micromanipulation, and live cell examinations. It is equipped with 5W LED illumination without heating and big working spaces with special holders for culture flasks. The instrument allows to perform contrast method analyses. Additionally, the microscope is equipped with the fluorescence illumination. For specifications visit www.leica-microsystems.com.
Software Collection
SVI 3D Huygens Deconvolution & Analysis Software Package
Huygens Software Package provides morphometric and deconvolution analyses of microscopic images. It comprises Huygens Essential и Professional packages containing standard set of morphometric instruments for image analysis, quantitative image deconvolution function, dispersion measuring f unction (including pointspread function), etc. For more information visit www.svi.nl.
Bitplane Imaris Software Package
Bitplane Imaris is the most popular image visualisation, analysis and exploration tool for the life science experimental data processing. The software provides 3D morphometric data analysis and preparation of the results obtained for future publications. For more information visit www.bitplane.com.
The open source community software for bio-imaging Icy
Micro-Manager Open Source Microscopy Software μManager
The software provides microscope image processing such as processing of time-lapses, multi-channel imaging, z-stacks, etc. The software works with images obtained on the common automated microscopes. For more information visit valelab.ucsf.edu.
Cell image analysis software CellProfiler
The software is designed for morphometrical processing of images obtained in the high-content screening studies and quantitatively measuring phenotypes from thousands of images automatically as well. For more information visit www.cellprofiler.org.
Sample Preparation for Histology
Histological Threading Equipment:
Leica Vibratome VT-1200S
Leica VT1200 S is a fully automated vibrating blade microtome predominantly designed for cutting fresh non-fixed soft tissues, and for cutting series sections of fixed specimen as well. For specifications visit www.leicabiosystems.com.
Fully Automated Rotary Microtome Leica RM2265
Leica RM2265 is a fully automated microtome designed for cutting of hard and semi-soft embedded tissue samples. The instrument provides 0.25 – 100 µm section thickness. For more information visit www.leicabiosystems.com.
Manual Rotary Microtome for Routine Sectioning Leica RM2235 with CoolClamp
Leica RM2235 is a manually adjustable microtome with electrically cooled universal cassette clamp designed for routine and serial cutting of paraffin embedded tissue samples. The instrument provides 1 – 60 µm section thickness with cutting step of 1 µm. For more information visit www.leicabiosystems.com.
Sliding microtome Leica SM2010 R
Leica SM2010 R is a manually adjustable microtome designed for cutting of paraffin and plastic embedded and fixed frozen tissue samples. The instrument provides 0.5 – 60 µm section thickness. For more information visit www.leicabiosystems.com.
Research Cryostat Leica CM3050 S
Leica CM3050 S is a motorized rotary cryomicrotome designed for routine microtomy; tissue immunogenicity preservation microtomy for the subsequent immune-gold staining; serial cutting of the frozen brain samples with the precise tissue sample orientation. The instrument provides 0.5 – 300 µm section thickness. For more information visit www.leicabiosystems.com.
Modular Tissue Embedding System Leica EG1150 H, EG1150 C, EG F
The Leica Paraffin Embedding Module comprises 3 separate devices: heated paraffin embedding module providing paraffin thermostatting, melting and dosed embedding of the tissue sample; the cold plate providing rapid cooling of embedded blocks at a constant temperature of -5°C; and electric heatable forceps designed for safer transfer of tissue specimens during paraffin embedding. For more information visit www.leicabiosystems.com.
Multistainer Leica ST5020
Leica ST5020 is the automated histological staining module designed for the mass routine staining of the histological specimens, which could be carried out simultaneously using different protocols. For more information visit www.leicabiosystems.com.
Fully Automated Glass Coverslipper Leica CV5030
Leica CV5030 is a fully automated device providing slide covering with different-sized cover slips after specimen threading. The instrument can coverslip up to 500 slides per hours. The device is compatible with the multistainer device Leica ST5020. For more information visit www.leicabiosystems.com.
Automated routine tissue processor Leica EM TP-1020VF
Leica EM TP is a fully automated device which provides fixation, dehydration and infiltration of histological samples for both electron and light microscopy using different kinds of fixatives, ethanol or isopropyl alcohol, xylene or chloroform, and paraffin. For more information visit www.leica-microsystems.com.
Liquid robotics system Tecan GenePaint Evo 150/4
The GenePaint Evo 150/4 is the robotic workstation designed to handle repetitive liquid transfer tasks. The workstation comprises the flexible robotic 4-channel liquid handling tool of variable volume and independent processing. It can be used in different fields of biological investigations and allows to perform immunostaining and in situ hybridization reactions (including fluorescence in situ hybridization), nucleic acid extractions, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, serial dilutions, MALDI spottings, etc. For specifications visit www.tecan.com.
Matrix Deposition Device for MALDI Imaging in Histology Bruker ImagePrep
ImagePrep is a fully automated tissue sample preparation station providing spatial distribution of protein biomarkers on histological tissue samples for MALDI imaging. For specifications visit www.bruker.com.
The equipemt in other Resourse Research Centers (RRCs) of St. Petersburg State University is also available for carrying out the research projects:
