An integrated Correlative Light and Electron Microscopy (CLEM) tool, the FEI iCorr, for the UBC Bioimaging Facility

可以说，与显微镜相关的成像领域发展最快的是一种通常被称为相关光和电子显微镜的技术，简称Clem。Clem可以用光学显微镜和电子显微镜对同一样品进行成像，这对于阐明不同尺度上的结构-功能关系至关重要。这项技术使研究人员能够定位特定的结构，如已经用荧光记者标记的蛋白质，然后通过确定它们在样本中的确切位置，使用透射电子显微镜(TEM)快速定位特定结构并获得精细的超微结构细节。 此前，Clem既具有技术挑战性，又耗费时间；主要问题是无法轻松地在电子显微镜中重新定位与光学显微镜成像的相同区域。该项目计划购买FEI iCorr，这是一种独特的光(荧光)显微镜，将与现有的透射式电子显微镜集成在一起。ICorr允许研究人员使用荧光显微镜和透射电子显微镜无缝地对同一样本进行成像，而不必在显微镜之间转换，从而消除了传统Clem的技术挑战和巨大的时间消耗。 FEI iCorr需要FEI Tecnai TEM才能正常工作。拟议的FEI iCorr将被整合到位于UBC生物成像设施内的现有FEI Tecnai TEM中。 这一工具将成为以下研究小组不可或缺的工具：驱动植物细胞发育的机制；抗虫害植物细胞成分的结构和功能；寄主与病原体的相互作用；血脑屏障的发展和维持；以及研究由纤维素和甲壳素(两者都是天然存在的)纳米晶体制成的新虹彩材料的小组，以及如何确定新开发的荧光纳米粒子的细胞定位。 这项建议得到了各机构团体的大量财政支持，突显了这一重要工具的必要性。将立即从安装FEI iCorr中受益的研究部门包括植物学、动物学、微生物学和免疫学、化学和迈克尔·史密斯实验室。因此，每个部门都承诺为购买FEI iCorr提供财政捐助。由于需要使用FEI iCorr的各种研究小组，以及随后不列颠哥伦比亚大学对这种成像工具的重要需求，该机构和科学系都承诺为该项目提供大量资金。

Arguably, the fastest growing field in microscopy related imaging is a technique generally called Correlative Light and Electron Microscopy, or CLEM for short. CLEM enables imaging of the same sample with both light and electron microscopy, which is essential for elucidating structure-function relationships at different scales. This technique allows the researcher to locate specific structures such as proteins that have been tagged with fluorescent reporters, and then, by determining their exact location within the sample, to quickly locate the specific structures and obtain exquisite ultrastructural detail using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Previously, CLEM has been both technically challenging and time consuming; the major issue being the inability to easily “re-locate” the same area in the electron microscope that was imaged with the light microscope. This project proposes to purchase the FEI iCorr, a unique light (fluorescence) microscope that will be integrated with an existing transmission electron microscope. The iCorr allows researchers to seamlessly image the same sample with both fluorescence microscopy and transmission electron microscopy without having to transfer between microscopes, thusly, removing both the technical challenges and vast time consumption of traditional CLEM. The FEI iCorr requires an FEI Tecnai TEM to function properly. The proposed FEI iCorr will be integrated onto an existing FEI Tecnai TEM located within the UBC Bioimaging Facility. This tool will become indispensable for groups studying: mechanisms that drive plant cell development; the structure and function of cellular components in pest-resistant plants; host-pathogen interactions; the development and maintenance of the blood-brain barrier; as well as groups studying new iridescent materials made from cellulose and chitin (both naturally occurring) nanocrystals, and how to determine the cellular localization of newly developed fluorescent nanoparticles. The necessity of this important tool is highlighted with the amount of financial support from various institutional groups this proposal has received. The research departments that will immediately benefit from the installation of the FEI iCorr include Botany, Zoology, Microbiology and Immunology, Chemistry, and the Michael Smith Labs. As a result, each department has committed financial contributions toward the purchase of the FEI iCorr. Due to the variety of research groups requiring access to the FEI iCorr and the subsequent important need for this imaging tool at the University of British Columbia, both the institution as well as the Faculty of Science have committed significant finances to this project.