Multidimensional Light-Sheet Microscopy for Studies of Biological Systems

Purpose and goal

This project focused on the development and use of novel light-based imaging techniques needed to investigate tissue, rapid developmental processes or e.g. chemical signals in the brain of a zebrafish larva. The VINNMER incoming fellow grant has made it possible for me to develop and publish new bioimaging techniques, create a larger research network, be able to participate in relevant courses and thereby have also greatly improved my chances to be able to continue with my research.

Expected results and effects

The goal was set high, not only did we have the ambition to disentangle how the brain´s immune system interacts with our brain cells, but also to find new ways to examine biological tissue. With the 3D imaging techniques that we have developed, we are now capable to monitor very rapid biological processes. For example, we can follow almost in real time the 3D movement of individual blood cells in a beating heart or blood vessel, as well as visualise neuronal activity and interactions between neurons and the brain’s immune cells (microglia).

Planned approach and implementation

More specifically, we have developed new 3D microscope techniques predominately based on light sheet technology. Using theese tools, we have studied rapid biological processes and brain immune cells. One of the aims of the project was to investigate how to better extract information from tissue sections. From initially starting with 3D imaging of a few markers in tissue, the analysis evolved and the focus has been shifted in the project´s final stages to more ambitious analyses, such as parallell readout of mRNA transcripts and in situ sequencing.