A short series of lectures introducing conventional, confocal and super-resolution microscopy of fluorescent biomolecules

The image above is of a 'box' confocal that is used by masters' students who need to learn about, or use, confocal microscopy for their masters' thesis work without having to learn to use a more sophisticated instrument. It is an affordable model from Olympus (without all the 'bells and whistles'); one that has unfortunately been phased-out by the company now, although they are still keeping this one working in our department. The research section of the department has fully-featured confocal or widefield microscopes from Zeiss, Leica, Nikon or Olympus, as well as two recent acquisitions: an Airyscan high-resolution confocal microsope from Zeiss, and a SIM-based super-resolution microscope from Zeiss.

Biomolecular fluorescence microscopy (conventional, confocal and super-resolution)

(3 lectures together covering the topics mentioned below) 

Immunofluorescent staining with fluorescent primary and secondary antibodies, or direct tracking agents; staining of different types of molecules and intracellular organelles or structures; concepts of coventional and confocal microscopy; the optical arrangements within a confocal microscope and the concept of the pinhole; SIM, STED, PALM and STORM super-resolution microscopy; avoidance of photobleaching; excitation and emission wavelengths of fluorophores commonly used in fluorescence microscopy; the use of dichroic mirrors and filters; the uses of lenses with different numerical apertures; remarkable advantages of confocal fluorescence microscopy over conventional fluorescence microscopy (more color possibilities; less cross-talk between fluorophores; optical sectioning without physical contact; three-dimensional reconstruction of specimens; improved resolution during imaging).

The lectures can be downloaded from the following google-drive URL (copy and paste the link given below into your browser to view or download each file/lecture).

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1RkChjDCvt4-yAg3S4x_AjE0EgRRXWHsn?usp=sharing