Central Facility for Microscopy

Our Expertise

The Central Facility for Microscopy, or ZEIM for short, provides the equipment and expertise for the preparation and examination of biological samples. For these tasks, ZEIM has several fluorescence microscopes (FM), confocal microscopes (CLSM), two transmission electron microscopes (TEM), and a field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM), as well as the necessary peripheral preparation equipment.

Since microscopic experiments are usually diverse and must meet specific requirements, the ZEIM team works closely with scientists to use or establish preparation methods and imaging techniques tailored to the intended experiment. ZEIM has access to a large portfolio of different methods of light and electron microscopy. 

Decades of experience in the electron microscopic preparation of biological samples is a particular strength of our EM service. Among other things, ZEIM offers the possibility of infecting cell lines with pathogenic bacteria or provides support in the morphological description of newly isolated bacteria or bacteriophages. In addition to sample preparation and image acquisition, this also includes the evaluation and creation of images for publications.

In the FM/CLSM area, scientists are assisted in taking images using fluorescence or confocal microscopes or receive appropriate training to take images independently. In addition to classic fluorescence labeling, double labeling is also offered to distinguish between extracellular and intracellular bacteria. 

In addition to the actual service work, we are actively involved in scientific collaborations. We use imaging techniques and subsequent analyses to address relevant questions posed by our partners. The strong microbiological and cell biological expertise of the ZEIM team plays a particularly important role in this context. One focus of our research is the visualization of the kinetic behavior of antimicrobial substances within bacterial communities—so-called biofilms—using various microscopy techniques. A particular focus is on the two clinically relevant model organisms Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus. However, projects involving other bacteria (e.g., streptococci) and fungi (e.g., Candida) are also being carried out with strong cooperation partners.