A young researcher’s guide to three-dimensional fluorescence microscopy of living cells

Abstract

Three-dimensional imaging of fast intracellular processes by fluorescence microscopy should provide decent spatial and high temporal resolution while minimizing fluorophore bleaching and cytotoxicity. We give a condensed introductory overview of three contemporary methods mostly used for imaging of living cells in 3D and compare their performance in terms of temporal and spatial resolution, imaging flexibility and specimen photodamage: point-scanning confocal microscopy, spinning-disc confocal microscopy, and lattice light-sheet microscopy. While point-scanning instruments are unsurpassed in terms of confocal performance, flexibility and configurability of their optical path, spinning-disc and lattice light-sheet optical designs excel in acquisition speed and low levels of light-inflicted specimen deterioration.

Celebrating 40 years of the Croatian Microscopy Society

“…The second part provides an overview of the current research of Croatian scientists and members of the Croatian Microscopy Society, covering a whole range of topics and focusing on plant biology (4,5), zoology (6,7), neuroscience (8) and chemistry (9). The third thematic unit presents a series of methodological review papers (10)(11)(12)(13)(14) that provide a comprehensive overview of various microscopic methods and their applications in different fields of biology and medicine. The volume ends with an exploration of the education methodology in the field of biology (15).…”