The Riveal Contrast Imaging System for High-Resolution Cellular Microscopy

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Cellular microbiology has seen a renaissance in the past several years, spurred in part by advances in imaging techniques. The ability of researchers to peer into cells and visualize the localization and organization of macromolecular complexes has advanced our understanding of fundamental biological processes in cell biology. Innovations in light and electron microscopy have provided new insight into the multi-protein complexes and bacterial ultrastructures that accomplish these fundamental processes. Bacteria are highly organized cells that possess compartments, cytoskeletons, structured genomes, and carefully positioned macromolecular machines. These intracellular intricacies can be applied to bacterial community interactions as well, such as those that occur in biofilms. Within the protective confines of a collective multi-cellular community in a biofilm, bacteria can persist in almost any environment, and resist the bactericidal effects of most antimicrobials. Microbial persistence has far reaching medical, commercial and environmental implications. The equipment requested consists of a novel Riveal Contrast Microscope imaging system that represents a state-of-the-art development in biomedical imaging technology. The main advantage of this system is the ability to capture structural information within unstained and/or fresh samples. The oblique illumination coupled with proprietary software algorithms yields full colour scattered-light images of structural details not visible using traditional illumination techniques. When coupled with fluorescence microscopy, the system is capable of providing detailed information about protein localization and resulting ultrastructural changes. This equipment will become an essential tool for sophisticated leading edge cell biology research for our group in a range of biological systems. It will also serve as a platform for developing new correlative microscopy techniques and for training the next generation of cell biologists.