Expertise
Imaging Platforms
Keywords - Light Microscopy: Cryo-fluorescence | Confocal microscopy | Superresolution microscopy | Widefield microscopy
Keywords - Electron Microscopy: Transmission EM | Electron tomography | Scanning EM (FEG) | Serial Block Face SEM | Focused Ion Beam SEM | Integrated Light and TEM | Integrated Light and SEM | Cryo-TEM
Keywords - X-Ray Microscopy: MicroCT | NanoCT
The EM STP uses a wide range of imaging techniques, including correlative light and electron microscopy (CLEM), transmission EM, scanning EM, electron tomography, volume electron microscopy (Serial Block Face SEM, Focused Ion Beam SEM), integrated light and electron microscopy (ILEM), cryo-fluorescence microscopy, cryo-transmission electron microscopy, cryo-soft X-ray tomography (at Diamond, ALBA and BESSY II synchrotrons) and microCT. A small microscopy development team sits within the Electron Microscopy STP, with expertise in design and development of new imaging technologies for biomedical science.
Applications
Keywords - Biological: Cell Biology | Neurobiology | Developmental Biology | Immunobiology | Zebrafish | C.elegans | Drosophila | Microbiology | Bio-materials
The EM STP has expertise in preparing, imaging and interpreting a wide range of samples, including proteins, DNA, protein:DNA complexes, viruses, bacteria, yeast, pathogen-infected cells, cultured cell lines, 3D tissue models, tissues and model organisms (including fruit flies, worms and zebrafish).
Sample Preparation
Keywords - Biological: Resin embedding | Ultrathin sectioning | Serial sectioning | Tokuyasu embedding | Cryosectioning | Immunolabelling | Plunge Freezing | High Pressure Freezing | Freeze substitution | CEMOVIS | Critical Point Drying | Freeze fracture | Metal coating | Negative stain | Rotary shadowing | Correlative Light & EM | PLT | Immunofluorescence
Keywords - Materials: Focussed ion beam (Gallium)
The EM STP uses a wide range of sample preparation techniques, including negative staining, low-angle rotary shadowing, resin embedding and ultramicrotomy, microwave embedding, cryosectioning and immunolabelling, plunge freezing, high pressure freezing and freeze substitution, and correlative light and electron microscopy (CLEM).
Data Analysis
Keywords - Software: ImageJ | FIJI | TrakEM2 | BigDataViewer | BigWarp | ICY | ecCLEM | IMOD | serialEM | illastik | napari | SBEM Image | Amira | Zen | Dragonfly
The EM STP provides expertise and advice in big data handling and analysis, from alignment and reconstruction to 3D model generation and display.
Shared Access
The EM STP is a core facility for researchers at the Francis Crick Institute. Our microscopes are not generally available to external researchers, but we are happy to provide expert advice in experimental design and the use of advanced light, X-ray and electron microscopes. Requests should be directed to the Head of the EM STP.
Funding
The EM STP is funded by the Francis Crick Institute, which receives its core funding principally from Cancer Research UK, the UK Medical Research Council and the Wellcome Trust.