EMU: ImageXpress Nano Automated Imaging System with Live Cell Imaging System for the Department of Physiology Multi-user Facility

• Grant number: 23/17311-0
• Support Opportunities: Research Infrastructure Program - Small Medium Sized
• Start date: September 01, 2024
• End date: August 31, 2027
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Physiology - Compared Physiology
• Principal Investigator: Ana Maria de Lauro Castrucci
• Grantee: Ana Maria de Lauro Castrucci
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Daniel José Galafasse Lahr ; Fernando Ribeiro Gomes ; Lucile Maria Floeter-Winter ; Maria Fernanda Laranjeira da Silva ; Pedro Augusto Carlos Magno Fernandes

Abstract

The ImageXpress Nano system generates wide-field and high-performance images and is capable of acquiring images from Whole organisms and cellular and intracellular events. With several applications in research on infectious diseases, cell physiology, cancer, cell counting, cell migration assays, finding and development of new drugs, and toxicology, among others, involving 3D cells, cardiomyocytes, The software analyzes high-output and time-lapse images integrates application modules to serve a variety of needs, among which:*Tube formation in angiogenesis. The promotion or inhibition of blood vessels is one of the focuses of câncer research, diabetes, and vascular diseases*Cell cycle classifies and quantifies cells in different phases of the cycle to investigate the progression of the cell cycle. In healthy cells, challenges with DNA damage, hypoxia, metabolic alterations, or fuse disruption result in activation of control setpoints and cell cycle stop. On the other hand, câncer cells lose the control points and divide uncontrollably, even under challenging conditions. With appropriate tools, researchers may track drugs that cause cell cycle interruption or cell death in câncer cells.*Cytotoxicity and cell viability assays are frequently utilized to evaluate the effect of a drug or other medicines and are valuable strategies in the search for new therapeutics, as well as in the advance of our knowledge of cell physiology. These methods may utilize luminescent, fluorescent, or colorimetric readings as markers of cell viability and even of specific cell pathways.*Cell scoring is a flexible solution to identify subpopulations of cells labeled with fluorescent probes and it is ideal for examining transfection efficiency, pathway (kinases) activation, or adipogenesis for example.*Nuclei Count automates precise counting and is ideal for cell proliferation studies, cell counting, or cell migration.*Granularity facilitates the analysis of dot structures, such as the ones observed during the gathering of target molecules for receptor internalization or within the nucleus or even the dot patterns of mitochondria and other organelles.*Custom editor allows the configuration of a Variety of analyses according the researcher interest. In a flexible and interactive software ambient, the users can create and test models for image analysis. Galeries of options are available for users to build their own sequence of analysis Steps. Customized modules may be rapidly written to measure parameters of general and specific toxicity, besides monitoring cell viability, apoptosis, phagocytosis, autofagia and mitochondrial membrane potential. The customized module allows simultaneous analyses of tissue-specific effects of toxic substances. (AU)