MDACC Advanced Microscopy Core

Overview of Services

LS7 Meso and Micro-Scale Lightsheet Microscopy

Equipment: Zeiss Gaussian Lightsheet 7 (LS7)

Rapid volumetric imaging of fixed and cleared whole organs, tissues and embryos
Dual sided lightsheet illumination
6 laser lines (405, 445, 488, 514, 561 and 638 nm) for rapid multispectral imaging from blue to far-red
Optics include 5X and 20X water and Clarity (mixed immersion)

Laser Scanning Confocal Microscopy with Spectral HyD Detectors

Equipment: Leica SP8 Confocal Microscope | Zeiss LSM880 Confocal Microscope

Fast imaging of live or fixed cells and tissues by resonant or conventional scanning
Highest sensitivity photon-counting HyD detectors
Spatial resolution ~250 nm (XY), ~600 nm (Z)
Channel unmixing by spectral fingerprinting
3-D visualization
FRET and FRAP modules
Automated image stitching for large specimens and 3-D Assay imaging in multi-well plates

Super-Resolution Structured Illumination Microscopy (SIM)

Equipment: OMX Blaze V4 Microscope

Spatial resolution ~120 nm (XY), ~300 nm (Z)
3-D high impact imaging of cellular structures

Total Internal Reflection Microscopy (TIRF)

Equipment: OMX Blaze V4 Microscope

Spatial resolution ~250 nm (XY), ~ 100 nm (Z thickness)
Studies of live cell membrane receptor-ligand interactions, cellular adhesion, endo and exocytosis, etc.

Fluorescence Recovery After Photobleaching (FRAP)

Equipment: Leica SP8 Confocal Microscope | Zeiss LSM880 Confocal Microscope

Dynamics of molecule trafficking in cells

Super-Resolution Localization Microscopy (STORM/PALM/GSD)

Equipment: OMX Blaze V4 Microscope (2-D)

Spatial resolution ~20 nm (XY), ~ 60 nm (Z)
Molecular studies of subcellular structures at the highest optical resolution available

Förster/Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) Imaging

Equipment: OMX Blaze V4 Microscope | Leica SP8 Confocal Microscope | Zeiss LSM880 Confocal Microscope

1-10 nm molecular distance sensitivity
Static and dynamic mapping of molecular interactions inside cells
‘Cyan/Yellow’, ‘Green/Red’ and ‘Red/Far Red’ donor/acceptor compatibility
Sensitized Emission (3-Cube) Method or Photobleaching Method

Image Analysis and Visualization

IMARIS Software (2SCR3.3203 and 3SCR4.3413)

High-end 3/4D Image Visualization and Analysis
Adaptive thresholding with feature identification (spots, cells, nuclei, cytoplasm, cell membranes, neuronal dendrites, etc)
Hundreds of morphological measurements
Colocalization
3-D video design with rotations, fly-through, zooming and time-lapse visualization
Spatiotemporal tracking
Compatible with most existing microscope brands and image formats

LCS3.x (Leica Confocal Software) (2SCR3.3130)

Image pre-processing and basic analysis of images from Leica SP8 Confocal Microscope
De-noising, spectral channel unmixing, distance measurement, z-stack projection (maximum intensity or average), 3-D rotation movie rendering, colocalization coefficients

SoftWorx (OMX microscope)

Image pre-processing and basic analysis of images from OMX Blaze SIM Microscope
De-noising, distance measurement, z-stack projection (maximum intensity or average), 3-D rotation movie rendering, colocalization coefficients, FRET, etc.

Contact

Collene Jeter |Core Director | cjeter@mdanderson.org| 832-750-7259 (office) & 512-694-0586 (cell)

M. Anna Zal |Core Manager | mazal@mdanderson.org| 713-563-7306 (office) & 346-234-0480 (cell)

Han Yang | Sr Research Asst | hyang13@mdanderson.org | 713-794-1902 (office)

Locations and hours of operation

Hours

Locations

Monday - Friday 8:00 am-5:00 pm (24/7 for independent users)

2SCR3.3023 (office) 7455 Fannin, Houston, TX 77054

3SCR4.3420 (office) 1881 East Rd., Houston, TX 77054

Links and Resources

MD Anderson Advanced Microscopy Core

Contacts

Name	Role	Phone	Email	Location
Collene Jeter	Director	832-750-7259	cjeter@mdanderson.org	1881 East Rd. Houston, TX 77054
M. Anna Zal	Core Manager	713-563-7306	mazal@mdanderson.org	7455 Fannin, Houston, TX 77054
Han Yang	Sr Research Asst	713-794-1902	hyang13@mdanderson.org	1881 East Rd. Houston, TX 77054

Service list

Name	Description	Price
Axio Observer (Epifluorescence) Assisted	Hourly rate	Inquire
Axio Observer (Epifluorescence) Independent	Hourly rate; <30 min = no charge	Inquire
Axio Observer Time-Lapse (>8 hours)	Hourly rate (12 h max rate per day) Set up fee may be required Burner fee required for fluorescence imaging	Inquire
Axio Observer Training	30 min; further assistance charged at Assisted rate	Inquire
Deep Imaging Prep	Sample dish + agarose 3D confocal or multiphoton imaging Per sample/dish	Inquire
Imaging Consultation	No charge	Inquire
Imaris Image Processing Assisted	Hourly rate	Inquire
Imaris Image Processing Independent	Hourly rate	Inquire
Imaris Image Processing Training	Hourly rate	Inquire
INCell Assisted	Hourly rate	Inquire
INCell Training	30 min; further assistance charge at Assisted rate	Inquire
INCell Unassisted	Slide/Plate scanning	Inquire
LifeCanvas Active Clearing	Detergent-based and electrophoretically enhanced whole organ clearing Consultation with core staff prior to sample preservation/submission required *SHIELD preservation REQUIRED May not be compatible with all tissue/organ types and/or epitopes	Inquire
LifeCanvas Active IF Staining	Electrophoretically enhanced whole organ IF staining Compatible with LifeCanvas validated antibodies; additional may be tested (see core staff) *Antibodies not provided as part of service fee Consultation with core staff prior to sample preservation/submission required May not be compatible with all tissue/organ types and/or epitopes	Inquire
LifeCanvas Passive Tissue Clearing	Detergent-based tissue clearing Consultation with core staff prior to sample preservation/submission required *SHIELD preservation recommended May not be compatible with all tissue/organ types and/or epitopes	Inquire
LSM880 (Confocal) Assisted	Hourly rate	Inquire
LSM880 (Confocal) Independent	Hourly rate	Inquire
LSM880 (Confocal) Time-Lapse	Available weekends (3 day maximum) Set up fee may be required	Inquire
LSM880 (Confocal) Training	Hourly rate	Inquire
Primary Antibody/Dye	Per sample/coverslip	Inquire
Standard Immunofluorescence Staining	Per slide Core provided primary antibody/dye charged separately Additional fee for FFPE processing	Inquire
Standard New Antibody Development	6 sample maximum Confocal imaging charged separately as needed	Inquire
TCS SP8 (Multiphoton) Assisted	Hourly rate	Inquire
TCS SP8 (Multiphoton) Training	With core management approval 4 hr miminum training; further assistance charged at Assisted rate	Inquire
TCS SP8 (Multiphoton) Unassisted	Requires prior TCS SP8 training and core management approval Can be added to assisted rate following sample set-up for long sample runs	Inquire
Thick Tissue New Antibody Development	6 sample maximum Multiphoton imaging charged separately	Inquire
Thick Tissue Staining	Core provided primary antibody/dye charged separately	Inquire
Vibratome Sectioning Assisted	Per sample 10 sections per sample maximum	Inquire
Vibratome Sectioning Training	Per hour	Inquire
Vibratome Sectioning Unassisted	Per sample; 10 sections per sample maximum Subject to availability/approval	Inquire

Search available services: View: by category alphabetically

Name	Description	Price
▼ ► unclassified (30)
Axio Observer (Epifluorescence) Assisted	Hourly rate	Inquire
Axio Observer (Epifluorescence) Independent	Hourly rate; <30 min = no charge	Inquire
Axio Observer Time-Lapse (>8 hours)	Hourly rate (12 h max rate per day) Set up fee may be required Burner fee required for fluorescence imaging	Inquire
Axio Observer Training	30 min; further assistance charged at Assisted rate	Inquire
Deep Imaging Prep	Sample dish + agarose 3D confocal or multiphoton imaging Per sample/dish	Inquire
Imaging Consultation	No charge	Inquire
Imaris Image Processing Assisted	Hourly rate	Inquire
Imaris Image Processing Independent	Hourly rate	Inquire
Imaris Image Processing Training	Hourly rate	Inquire
INCell Assisted	Hourly rate	Inquire
INCell Training	30 min; further assistance charge at Assisted rate	Inquire
INCell Unassisted	Slide/Plate scanning	Inquire
LifeCanvas Active Clearing	Detergent-based and electrophoretically enhanced whole organ clearing Consultation with core staff prior to sample preservation/submission required *SHIELD preservation REQUIRED May not be compatible with all tissue/organ types and/or epitopes	Inquire
LifeCanvas Active IF Staining	Electrophoretically enhanced whole organ IF staining Compatible with LifeCanvas validated antibodies; additional may be tested (see core staff) *Antibodies not provided as part of service fee Consultation with core staff prior to sample preservation/submission required May not be compatible with all tissue/organ types and/or epitopes	Inquire
LifeCanvas Passive Tissue Clearing	Detergent-based tissue clearing Consultation with core staff prior to sample preservation/submission required *SHIELD preservation recommended May not be compatible with all tissue/organ types and/or epitopes	Inquire
LSM880 (Confocal) Assisted	Hourly rate	Inquire
LSM880 (Confocal) Independent	Hourly rate	Inquire
LSM880 (Confocal) Time-Lapse	Available weekends (3 day maximum) Set up fee may be required	Inquire
LSM880 (Confocal) Training	Hourly rate	Inquire
Primary Antibody/Dye	Per sample/coverslip	Inquire
Standard Immunofluorescence Staining	Per slide Core provided primary antibody/dye charged separately Additional fee for FFPE processing	Inquire
Standard New Antibody Development	6 sample maximum Confocal imaging charged separately as needed	Inquire
TCS SP8 (Multiphoton) Assisted	Hourly rate	Inquire
TCS SP8 (Multiphoton) Training	With core management approval 4 hr miminum training; further assistance charged at Assisted rate	Inquire
TCS SP8 (Multiphoton) Unassisted	Requires prior TCS SP8 training and core management approval Can be added to assisted rate following sample set-up for long sample runs	Inquire
Thick Tissue New Antibody Development	6 sample maximum Multiphoton imaging charged separately	Inquire
Thick Tissue Staining	Core provided primary antibody/dye charged separately	Inquire
Vibratome Sectioning Assisted	Per sample 10 sections per sample maximum	Inquire
Vibratome Sectioning Unassisted	Per sample; 10 sections per sample maximum Subject to availability/approval	Inquire
Vibratome Sectioning Training	Per hour	Inquire