The mission of Ragon Institute Imaging Core, Microscopy Division is to bring the latest imaging modalities and technology to bear on fundamental molecular and cell biological questions pertaining to infectious diseases. As an MGH Core Facility, the Ragon Institute Imaging Core also serves the MGH greater MGH community. Since the Ragon Institute is also a collaboration between MGH, Harvard, and MIT, so too does the facility welcome members of the MIT and Harvard communities as we are now located in Cambridge at MIT.
The facility encompasses five imaging systems, including a Zeiss LSM510 laser scanning confocal microscope and a fully automated Zeiss Axio Observer microscope, both housed in BL2+ compliant facilities. These imaging systems are therefore fully equipped for both fixed and live cell imaging. In addition, the facility has two slide scanning systems (MIRAX MIDI and TissueFAXS) for high speed automated imaging and cellular screening of tissue sections and cultured cells on glass slides. In the Flow Cytometry section of the Imaging Core, we also have an ImageStream X Mark II by Amnis.
The core also serves as a resource for addressing a variety of imaging needs including consultation on a topics related to imaging applications, experimental design, and sample preparation.
Member:
Diefenbach, Thomas J., Ph. D.
Role:
Associate Director, Microscopy
Phone:
(857) 268-7046
Email
"The new Amnis® ImageStream X Mark II imaging flow cytometer combines the speed, sensitivity, and phenotyping abilities of flow cytometry with the detailed imagery and functional insights of microscopy. This unique combination enables a broad range of applications that would be impossible using either technique alone. "
Zeiss Axio Imager Z2 upright fluorescence microscope
Maerzhaeuser motorized scanning stage with 8 slide holder
Pixelink color CCD camera 12 bit
PCO monochrome CCD camera 12 bit
X-CITE 120XL metal halide lamp
2.5, 20x, and 40x Zeiss objectives
TissueFAXS slide scanning software
12 bit color/b&w CCD camera
Axiovision capture software
Hamamatsu C10600 Orca R2 cooled CCD camera
Sutter Lambda DG-4 Ultra High Speed Wavelength Switcher
Sutter Shutters
Ludl motorized stage
Zeiss TempModule S1
Zeiss Stage Heating Insert P S1
Zeiss CO2 module
PI PIFOC Piezo-Z focusing device (0.4nm step resolution)
Ludl motorized stage
Zeiss TempModule S1
Zeiss Stage Heating Insert P S1
Zeiss CO2 module
Zeiss “Zen” capture software
Zeiss Alpha Plan-Apochromat 100x 1.46NA TIRF objective
Zeiss Plan-Apochromat 20x 0.8NA objective
AxioCam MRm CCD camera
Hitachi HV-F22 CL CCD camera
Zeiss slide scanning software
Users may have assistance in the use of the imaging systems.
The confocal and RPI imaging systems are housed in BL2+ compliant facilities and equipped for live cell imaging in addition to imaging of fixed preparations. The imaging systems cover a wide range of imaging applications including automated multi-well plate imaging, whole-slide fluorescence and brightfield scanning (for large area image reconstruction and analysis), high-speed multi-color fluorescence imaging, long term time-lapse imaging, and confocal and wide-field live cell or tissue time-lapse imaging (multiple positions in either 2D or 3D). Cell-specific applications include FRET, FRAP, intracellular particle tracking, 3D reconstruction, internalization studies, cell motility and tracking, cell population screening in tissue sections and cell culture similar to FAXS, and up to six color fluorescence imaging on the confocal microscope.
A Microscopy Fundamentals training class is held on a regular basis or based on demand. Each class is 1.5 hours long and provides a general introduction to the principles and applications of microscopy, including fluorescence microscopy and confocal imaging. Additional classes on specific applications are available on demand.
Users are given full training for independent use of the imaging systems.
for 2D analysis