Super-Resolution Imaging Consortium
The Super-Resolution Imaging Consortium (SRIC) offers researchers access to a number of cutting-edge light microscopy instruments with the ability to bypass the light diffraction limit resolution. These instruments have the ability to reach resolution values of a few tenths of nm – filling the gap between light microscopy and electron microscopy.
The Centre has three microscopes with capabilities spanning stimulated emission depletion, STED imaging, single-molecule localisation techniques (such as STORM and PALM imaging) and super-resolution radial fluctuations.
The Centre was funded through an Science Foundation Ireland equipment grant, with co-funding by the RCSI Office of Research and Innovation also significantly contributing to the costs.
The SRIC hosts the following instruments:
- Leica Stellaris 8 STED/FLIM/confocal system – the integration between STimulated Emission Depletion (STED) microscopy and fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) offers unprecedented levels of resolution along x, y and z. With the 775 nm depletion laser line and three different objectives, it is possible to perform multi-channel STED on a number of fixed and live samples. The white light excitation laser can continuously illuminate between 440 nm and 790 nm, enabling the use of most of the available fluorochromes and fluorescent proteins. Finally, the system is also a very sensitive and versatile confocal microscope with optional features like deconvolution, tiling ad multi-position automated acquisition.
- Abbelight SAFe 360 – this instrument is based on a single-molecule localisation (SML) microscopy technique called STORM (STochastic Optical Reconstruction Microscopy). The five available lasers can excite most of the commercial fluorochromes and they can be used in epifluorescence, HILO and TIRF modes. The two cameras offer multiple possibilities, such as 3D localisation, multichannel acquisition and spectral de-mixing. The raw data collected during the acquisition can be processed and efficiently analysed using the companion NEO analysis software.
- Olympus IX73 'SRRF' widefield microscope – it is equipped to carry out super-resolution radial fluctuations (SRRF) imaging which is a universal live-cell super-resolution microscopy technique. The user-friendly software represents a straightforward entry into super-resolution imaging for less experienced users.
- Sigma 300 FEG-SEM coupled with a Zeiss LSM 800 Airy confocal – this is a correlative light and electron microscopy (CLEM) system capable of integrated optical and electron imaging. This form of correlative microscopy establishes the workflows between the light microscope equipment and more powerful electron microscope infrastructure to produce integrated images. This equipment is accessible through our consortium partners and is located in the UCD Conway Institute.
Publications
You can also find a list of publications the SRIC has been involved with below.
- Exploiting directed self-assembly and disassembly for off-to-on fluorescence responsive live cell imaging. RSC Advances – Curtin N., Garre M., Bodin J.B., Solem N., M´eallet-Renault R., O'Shea D.
- Double click macrocyclization with Sondheimer diyne of aza-dipyrrins for B–Free biorthogonal imaging. Chemical Communications – Wu D., Durán-Sampedro G., Fitzgerald S., Garre M, O’Shea D.
- Identifying STEDable BF2-azadipyrromethene fluorophores. Molecules – Curtin N., Garre M., Wu D., O’Shea D.
- Substituent directed cellular imaging in the 800–850 nm range with BF2-azadipyrromethene fluorophores. RSC Advances – Caulfield C., Wu D., Garre M., O'Shea D.
- An investigation into the acidity-induced insulin agglomeration: implications for drug delivery and translation. ACS Omega –Fagihi MHA, Premathilaka C., O’Neill T., Garre M., Bhattacharjee S.
- O-glycan determinants regulate VWF trafficking to Weibel-Palade bodies. Blood Advances – Karampini E., Doherty D., Bürgisser P.E., Garre M., Schoen I., Elliott S., Bierings R., O’Donnell J.S.
- A NIR-fluorochrome for live cell dual emission and lifetime tracking from the first plasma membrane interaction to subcellular and extracellular locales. Molecules – Booth E., Garre M., Wu D., Daly H.C., O’Shea D.
- Observing bioorthogonal macrocyclizations in the nuclear envelope of live cells using on/on fluorescence lifetime microscopy. Chemical Science –Pim S., Bourgès A.C., Wu D., Durán-Sampedro G., Garre M., O'Shea D.