Fluorescence microscope with deconvolution and extended depth-of-focus imaging capabilities

具有反卷积和扩展景深成像功能的荧光显微镜

• 批准号: 359914-2008
• 负责人: Reed, Bruce
• 金额: $ 9.25万
• 依托单位: University of Waterloo
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Research Tools and Instruments - Category 1 (<$150,000)
• 财政年份: 2007
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2007-01-01 至 2008-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=361238
• 关键词: Fluorescence; microscope; deconvolution; extended; depth

All cells in multicellular animals are genetically programmed to die by a process called apoptosis.  Apoptosis is a normal function and is highly regulated: too much apoptosis is associated with certain neurodegenerative disorders, while too little apoptosis can be a contributing factor in certain types of cancer.We study apoptosis in the fruitfly using genetic analysis to find genes that control this process.  Much of our time is spent examining the phenotypes of these mutants using microscopy.  Using modern live-imaging techniques, we are able to observe normal patterns of apoptosis in living wild type fruitfly embryos and compare what happens in living mutant embryos. What we have learned so far is that the way in which apoptosis is activated in the fruitfly embryo is very similar to the apoptosis that occurs in the neurons of people suffering from Alzheimer's disease or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).  This is very exciting as it suggests that the fruitfly could be a very good place to look for ways to prevent this type of apoptosis from occurring - and could potentially provide new ideas on how to treat these diseases .The equipment we are requesting in this application is a modern high-resolution light microscope that is able to digitally enhance images and remove out-of-focus light.   This powerful technique, called deconvolution microscopy, is becoming one of the microscopist's standard tools and will greatly increase the resolution with which we can observe dying cells.  It will be very useful to many members of our department and would be the first such instrument for the University of Waterloo.

多细胞动物中的所有细胞都经过基因编程，通过称为细胞凋亡的过程死亡。  细胞凋亡是一种正常功能，并且受到高度调控：细胞凋亡过多与某些神经退行性疾病有关，而细胞凋亡过少可能是某些类型癌症的促成因素。我们使用遗传分析来研究果蝇的细胞凋亡，以找到控制该过程的基因。  我们的大部分时间都花在使用显微镜检查这些突变体的表型上。  使用现代活体成像技术，我们能够观察活体野生型果蝇胚胎中细胞凋亡的正常模式，并比较活体突变体胚胎中发生的情况。到目前为止，我们了解到，果蝇胚胎中细胞凋亡被激活的方式与阿尔茨海默病或肌萎缩侧索硬化症（ALS）患者的神经元中发生的细胞凋亡非常相似。  这是非常令人兴奋的，因为它表明果蝇可能是寻找防止此类细胞凋亡发生的方法的好地方，并且有可能为如何治疗这些疾病提供新的想法。我们在此应用中要求的设备是现代高分辨率光学显微镜，能够以数字方式增强图像并消除失焦光。   这种强大的技术称为反卷积显微镜，正在成为显微镜学家的标准工具之一，并将大大提高我们观察垂死细胞的分辨率。  它对我们系的许多成员都非常有用，并且将是滑铁卢大学的第一个此类工具。