Imaging

Cytometry Service

Founded in 1976 at the time the CIML was created, the Cytometry service functions with three engineers, Marc Barad (service manager), Pierre Grenot and Atika Zouine. Marie Malissen provides the scientific responsibility. The service is assisted by a steering committee made up of advanced users, which meets monthly.

The missions of the service are:

• Cell sorting in biological conditions from any cell type in any kind of support (tube,1,5ml-15ml, 96 or 384 well plates). All sorting experiments are done in conditions insuring optimal cell viability.
• Quality control and maintenance of instruments
• Training of users. The training course consists of two modules: a theoretical module with basic notions of cytometry and a practical module on an analyser in small group. The novice user is then assisted at the beginning of his own experiment.
• Advice and assistance for flow cytometry experiments, data analysis and cell sorting.
• Evaluation of new technologies in term of analysis and cell sorting to maintain cytometry at his best level in the service.
• Development and optimization of the analyzers and sorters: Instruments modifications to reach optimum detection of new fluorochromes and fluorescent proteins.

The service has an online booking calendar and a network server for secure storage of data.

The instruments of the service are:

2 sorters

FacsVantageSE DiVa modified with a yellow laser (3 lasers, 8 colors)
Aria III upgrade modified with a yellow laser (4 lasers, 14 colors)

6 analyzers

• Canto II, 3 lasers, and eight colors
• Canto II, 3 lasers, eight colors
• LSR II modified with a yellow laser, 4 lasers and 14 colors
• LSR II with a UV laser, 4 lasers, 15 colors
• FACScan 1, a 3-color laser
• FacsArray two lasers 4 colors

5 stations for data analysis

• 2 Flowjo;
• 2 Diva
• 1 Infinicyt

PICsL

The PICsL microscopy core facility (Plateforme d’Imagerie Commune du Site de Luminy) was created in 2002 through a partnership between the CIML and the Institute of Developmental Biology of Marseille-Luminy (IBDML).

The objective of this core facility is to allow the 45 research groups from both institutes to access the most advanced imaging technologies. The equipment of the facility (8 conventional confocal microscopes and 4 multiphoton microscopes) is evenly distributed among the two institutes and connected by a shared online reservation and data storage system. PICsL represents one of largest microcopy and imaging core facility in Europe and has been labeled as a beta tester site for Zeiss GmbH.

In addition of making available acquisition and image processing technology, PICsL organizes imaging workshops applied to biology for scientists from both institutes and other European research institutes (European Networks).

Recently awarded with the label IBISA, the imaging facility provides the latest technology and expertise to scientists seeking advanced imaging techniques for their projects. In addition to single-photon and two-photon microscopes, the imaging department manages a fleet of standard fluorescence microscopes equipped with CCD cameras and image processing software. The platform also includes an electron microscopy service.