Live-Cell Epifluorescence Microscope

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At the Institute of Virology of the Philipps-University Marburg several groups investigate molecular mechanisms of infection, replication, and pathogenicity of highly pathogenic viruses that affect human health, including Ebola and Marburg virus, coronaviruses (SARS, MERS, and SARS-CoV-2), influenza A virus, different flaviviruses (e.g. Dengue, Zika, and West Nile), Lassa, and Nipah virus. The institute has laboratories up to the highest biosafety level that allow the study of these viruses. Many groups in the Institute utilize, among other techniques, high-end microscopy methods to study viral replication and the effects on the infected host cells to identify host cell machineries that are critical for virus entry, replication, and egress and to elucidate pathological alterations in infected cells. Beside the analysis of fixed samples of virus-infected cells, the working groups are interested in the dynamics of the formation of virus replication compartments and assembly and release of progeny virions. In addition, the interaction with different host cell organelles is another main focus of research. To study those processes, the institute has live-cell microscopes that are available in the BSL3 and BSL4 facilities, a new Nikon Ti2-E and a Leica DM6000 FS, respectively. However, the live cell microscope in the BSL2 facility is a 13-year-old Nikon TE-200E instrument. Due to its age the instrument frequently fails, the cameras are not state of the art and spare parts for repair are no longer available. To continue the highly successful research on these important human pathogens, the instrument has to be replaced as soon as possible.