The mission of the Ragon Institute Imaging Core is to bring the latest imaging modalities to bear on fundamental molecular and cell biological questions pertaining to infectious diseases. As an MGH core, it also serves the greater MGH community in all aspects of advanced microscopy and image analysis. The Microscopy division of the Ragon Institute Imaging Core is located on the 5 th floor of CNY 149 in MGH-East in Charlestown. The core offers training, assistance and access to imaging systems from Carl Zeiss MicroImaging. Consultation is provided on sample preparation, experimental design, and advanced image analysis. Our confocal and automated widefield imaging systems are situated in a BL2+ facility, permitting examination of fixed or live samples with up to BL2+ level of biosafety.

Director: Galit Alter, Ph.D.
Phone: (617) 724-0546
Email: galter@partners.org

Associate Director: Thomas Diefenbach, Ph.D.
Phone: (617) 724-7514
Email: tdiefenbach@partners.org

Location of Core:

CNY 149, 13th Street, Rooms: 5214E, 5553 & 5214K, MGH-East, Charlestown, MA 02129.

Major Equipment:

• Zeiss LSM510 Laser Scannning Confocal Microscope based on an inverted Axio Observer Z1 with environmental control (heat and CO 2), 405/458/477/488/514/561/633 nm laser lines, and a motorized stage. Imaging is controlled via Zen software (Zeiss).

• Zeiss Axio Observer Z1 inverted fluorescence microscope with Orca-R2 12/16 bit digital camera, environmental control (heat and CO 2), motorized stage, PIFOC piezoelectric objective stepping motor with 5 nm step resolution, and a Sutter Instruments DG-4 ultra-high speed wavelength switcher. Imaging is controlled via Metamorph software (Molecular Devices).

• Zeiss Axio Observer A1 manual microscope with AxioCam MRc 12 bit color and black and white CCD camera. Controlled through Axiovision image capture software (Zeiss).

• Zeiss MIRAX MIDI whole slide scanner with Zeiss 20x 0.8NA Plan-Apochromat objective. Capable of scanning up to 12 slides in one session. Utilizes two 12 bit cameras for either fluorescence or brightfield imaging of slides. Images are tiled to provide a global view of the entire section for offline “virtual” microscopy. Controlled by Zeiss MIRAX imaging and image presentation software.

• TissueFAXS by Tissue Gnostics is a unique slide scanning system based on a Zeiss Axio Imager Z2 automated microscope with motorized Maerzhaeuser stage with an eight-slide tray. Controlled by Tissue Gnostics imaging software. Images can be tiled for a global view of a slide. Associated TissueQuest and HistoQuest software provide a means to rapidly identify cell populations based on fluorescent or cytological markers, display 2D plots of colocalized staining, and permit gating of cell populations similar to flow cytometric analysis.

• High-end image analysis workstation equipped with Metamorph (Molecular Devices), Imaris (Bitplane), in addition to TissueQuest and HistoQuest (Tissue Gnostics) image analysis software. Viewing software for the MIRAX MIDI and Zeiss confocal microscope (Zen) are also provided and are available without license for offline viewing.

• An introductory course is provided for new users in the fundamentals of microscopy, including confocal microscopy and image analysis.
• Consultation in terms of the imaging system best suited to the needs of the investigator is provided.
• Individual training in the use of any of the imaging systems in the core is provided so that users are able to work independently with the systems.
• For more sophisticated applications, assisted use of the systems is provided.
• Imaging core staff are available to answer questions or to assist in troubleshooting.
• Training in image analysis applications is also provided for core users.
• The core continues to evolve to suit the needs of the Ragon Institute and the greater MGH community.
  

• A Microscopy Fundamentals class attendance is billed at the rate of $50 per person.
• Zeiss LSM 510 Confocal Laser Scanning Microscope
• Unassisted Imaging is billed at $40 per hour for all users.
• Zeiss/RPI Axio Observer Automated Fluorescence Microscope
• Unassisted Imaging is billed at $40 per hour for all users.
• Zeiss Axio Observer A1 Manual Fluorescence Microscope
• Unassisted Imaging is billed at $10 per hour for all users.
• MIRAX MIDI Slide Scanner
• Unassisted Imaging is billed at $15 per hour for all users.
• TissueFAXS Slide Scanner
• Unassisted Imaging is billed at $15 per hour for all users.
• Training and assisted imaging is billed at a rate of $95 per hour.

For consultation or training on any of our imaging systems, please contact Thomas Diefenbach at:

• Phone: (617) 724-7514
• Email: tdiefenbach@partners.org

Ragon Institute Core Services home page: http://www2.massgeneral.org/aids/index.html

Flow Cytometry:

• http://www2.massgeneral.org/aids/flow_cytometry.html
• http://www.partners.org/researchcores/cytometry/ragon_cytometry_MGH.asp

Microscopy: http://www2.massgeneral.org/aids/microscopy/introduction.htm