© Münster Imaging Network – Marie Baldenius

Microscopes

This is an overview of the microscopes belonging to the Münster Imaging Network. The equipment is mostly provided by various research groups that are members of our network. To make use of the opportunies provided, it is not necessary to be a member.

When planning your microscopy experiments, the spectra analysis tools listed below may also be helpful.

  • Confocal microscopes – CLSM

    Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy (CLSM) produces sharp, optically sectioned images by scanning the sample point-by-point with a laser and blocking out-of-focus light, ideal for detailed 3D imaging.

    Available microscopes:

    Leica SP8 (Klämbt Lab)
    Leica SP8 (Krahn Lab)
    Leica SP5 (Kudla Lab)
    Leica SP8 (Schulte-Merker Lab)
    Leica SP8 DLS (Kudla Lab)
    Leica SP8 DLS (Luschnig Lab)
    Leica SP8 FLIM (Busch Lab)
    Leica Stellaris Falcon (Luschnig Lab)
    Zeiss LSM 780 (Gerke Lab)
    Zeiss LSM 800 Airyscan (Gerke Lab)
    Zeiss LSM 800 Airyscan (Püschel Lab)
    Zeiss LSM 880 Fast Airyscan (Klämbt Lab)
    Zeiss LSM 900 Airyscan 2 (Schelhaas Lab)
    Zeiss LSM 980 Airyscan 2 MPLX (Münster Imaging Network)
    Zeiss LSM 980 Airyscan 2 MPLX (Schwarzländer Lab)

  • Confocal microscopes – Spinning Disc

    Spinning disc confocal microscopy uses a rotating disc with multiple apertures to scan multiple points simultaneously, enabling fast imaging especially suited for live cells and time-sensitive experiments.

    Available microscopes:

    Andor Dragonfly (Schelhaas Lab)
    FEI/Till iMIC3 (Wedlich-Söldner Lab)
    Molecular Devices Screening Microscope (Schelhaas Lab)
    Zeiss Spinning Disc (Klämbt Lab)
    Zeiss Spinning Disc on VisiView (Schelhaas Lab)

  • Super-resolution microscopes

    Super-resolution microscopy overcomes the diffraction limit of light, providing images with significantly higher resolution than conventional light microscopy through techniques like SIM, STORM, or Airyscan.

    Available microscopes:

    Nikon SIM/STORM (Münster Imaging Network)
    Zeiss Elyra S1(Klämbt Lab)
    Zeiss Elyra 7 (Münster Imaging Network)
    Zeiss LSM 800 Airyscan (Gerke Lab)
    Zeiss LSM 880 Fast-Airyscan (Klämbt Lab)
    Zeiss LSM 900 Airyscan 2 (Schelhaas Lab)
    Zeiss LSM 980 Airyscan 2 (Münster Imaging Network)
    Zeiss LSM 980 Airyscan 2 MPLX (Schwarzländer Lab)

  • TIRF

    Total Internal Reflection Fluorescence (TIRF) creates an ultra-thin excitation layer near the sample surface, perfect for studying events at the cell membrane with minimal background signal.

    Available microscopes:

    FEI/Till iMIC1 (Wedlich-Söldner Lab)
    FEI/Till iMIC2 (Wedlich-Söldner Lab)
    FEI/Till iMIC3 (Wedlich-Söldner Lab)
    Nikon SIM/STORM (Münster Imaging Network)
    Olympus TIRF 4Line (Busch Lab)
    Olympus TIRF 4Line IXplore (Schelhaas Lab)
    Zeiss Elyra 7 (Münster Imaging Network)

  • Light sheet microscopes – SPIM

    Light Sheet or Selective Plane Illumination Microscopy (SPIM) illuminates the sample with a thin sheet of light from the side, enabling fast 3D imaging with reduced phototoxicity and photobleaching.

    Available microscopes:

    Leica SP8 DLS (Luschnig Lab)
    LaVision UltraMicroscope II (Kiefer Lab)
    LaVision UltraMicroscope II SuperPlan (Münster Imaging Network)

  • Screening microscopes

    Screening microscopy is designed for automated, high-speed imaging of large sample numbers or multiple positions, commonly used in high-throughput screening and image analysis.

    Available microscopes:

    Molecular Devices Screening Microscope (Schelhaas Lab)
    Olympus ScanR (Münster Imaging Network)
    Opera Screening System (Wedlich-Söldner Lab)

  • Multiphoton microscopes

    Multiphoton microscopy excites fluorophores by simultaneous absorption of multiple photons, allowing deep tissue penetration with less phototoxicity, making it ideal for live samples.

    Available microscopes:

    TriMScope II Multiphoton (Kiefer Lab)
    TriMScope II Multiphoton (Püschel Lab)
    TriMScope Matrix 3P Multiphoton (Münster Imaging Network)

  • FLIM

    Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging Microscopy (FLIM) measures the fluorescence decay time, providing additional insights into the molecular environment and interactions independent of signal intensity.

    Available microscopes:

    Leica SP8 FLIM PicoQuant (Busch Lab)
    Leica Stellaris Falcon WLL Far Red (Luschnig Lab)
    Zeiss LSM 880 FLIM PicoQuant (Grashoff Lab)

  • Other microscopes

    Leica Stellaris Falcon WLL Far Red (Luschnig Lab)
    Olympus LV200 Bioluminescence (Stanewsky Lab)

Spectra viewer

Spectra viewers are indispensable tools for selecting optimal combinations of fluorophores, light sources, and filter sets in fluorescence microscopy. They facilitate experimental planning by visualising spectral overlaps and enabling efficient signal separation for high-quality imaging.

  • FBbase
    Interactive, vendor-independent tool featuring a comprehensive database of fluorescent proteins, a spectra viewer, FRET calculator, and the ability to simulate and share complete microscope setups
  • Spectra Viewer by Chroma
    Spectra Viewer with a comprehensive database of fluorophores, filters, and light sources from various manufacturers
  • Spectra Viewer by ThermoFischer
    Spectra Viewer for visualizing and combining excitation and emission spectra, specifically tailored to Thermo Fisher fluorophores and filters