Australia Hosted Event
30 May 2025
14:00 - 15:00 AEDT (05:00 - 06:00 BST)
Online
The expansion microscopy user group brings together researchers to share experiences to enable rapid uptake of the technology.
At this meeting...
We will be joined by Invited Speaker Dr Pranali Deore who'll be presenting her talk 'Adapting expansion microscopy for visualisation of a challenging marine protist, Symbiodiniaceae'.
A marine protist, Symbiodiniaceae, is emerging as a tool to study symbiosis due to its close association with diverse prokaryotes and invertebrate species (corals and jelly fish). These symbiotic associations are exposed to imminent threat under the emerging climate change. Visualizing changes in subcellular features of Symbiodiniaceae are challenging because of the broad spectrum autofluorescence (450–750 nm), small cell size (6–8 µm), and thick cell wall, limiting the use traditional immunofluorescence techniques with conventional confocal microscopy (~200 nm resolution). The use of Expansion Microscopy (ExM) is a promising solution however, its implementation is particularly challenging in specimens containing thick cellulosic rich cell wall. We have consistently achieved three-fold expansion of Symbiodiniaceae cells (18–24 micron) using thermo-chemical digestion that significantly dampens the fluorescence signal. To enable post-digestion labelling we used a novel platinum-based trifunctional linker for the modification of fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH) oligonucleotide probe used for 18S rRNA labelling, covalent attachment of the hybridised product to the hydrogel, and for its post-detection using DBCO-modified fluorophores. Our ExM technique is compatible with widely used pan-ExM for non-specific (NHS ester), and specific (antibody) protein labelling approaches. ExM coupled with tri-functional linker approach has unlocked in-depth visualisation of Symbiodiniaceae which is a critical microbe for the understanding of the impact of climate change at cellular and molecular levels.
Dr Pranali Deore is a trained biotechnologist specialising in the development of innovative tools to study microalgae at the University of Melbourne. Her post-doctoral research work at the University of Melbourne focuses on developing advanced imaging tools to visualise a microalga, Symbiodiniaceae, which is critical microbe for healthy functioning of corals. Pranali also specialises in advance chlorophyll a fluorescence analysis for the screening of thermal tolerance trait in microalgae. She is starting a new role as an Experimental Scientist – Predictive Phenotyping at the Australian Institute of Marine Science. Outside of the lab Pranali likes to hike, contour into new yoga postures and paint. She is available for a friendly chat about implementing ExM on new cell types and targets.
Organisers:
Gabriela Segal Wasserman
Microscopy Officer at the Imaging Facility, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Australia.
Dr Segal has a PhD in Tumour Immunology from the Dept. of Microbiology and Immunology at the University of Melbourne. She has years of experience in sample preparation for confocal and multiphoton microscopy. In her current role as an academic specialist she supports confocal, tissue clearing and Lightsheet applications.
RMS Organisers:
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