Microscopy Imaging Center of coimbra (MICC) – CNC-UC
The Microscopy Imaging Center of Coimbra (MICC), part of the Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology (CNC), is a centralized facility that provides essential support for both conventional and advanced light microscopy techniques. Equipped with cutting-edge technology, the MICC is accessible to all researchers, whether from academia or industry. Our mission is to enhance the research and educational experience for the broader scientific community.
To achieve this, the MICC-CNC:
– Delivers technical training for local users and visiting researchers;
– Provides expert consultation on experimental design and image analysis;
– Incorporates the latest advancements in hardware and software tailored for biomedical research;
– Continuously offers education on advanced microscopy through training courses and workshops.
Resources
Equipment:
- ZEISS AxioImager Z2
- ZEISS LSM 710
- ZEISS Axio Observer Z1
- ZEISS Cell Observer SD
- ZEISS AxioScan Z1
- ZEISS AxioScope 2 Plus
- ZEISS Axiovert 200
- ZEISS P.A.L.M. Laser Dissecting
- ZEISS LSM 710 NLO
Software:
- Imaris
- ZEISS ZEN
- Huygens
- MatLab
- Metamorph
- Fiji
- QuPath
Offered Technologies
- Deconvolution Widefield Microscopy (DWM)
- Laser Scanning Confocal Microscopy (LSCM/CLSM)
- Fluorescence Recovery After Photobleaching (FRAP)
- Förster Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET)
- Intravital Microscopy (IVM)
- Microdissection
- Spinning disk confocal microscopy (SDCM)
- Tissue Clearing
- Multiphoton Microscopy
- High Performance Workstation
Publications
- Lopes, M. M., Lopes, S. M., Baganha, R., Henriques, C., Silva, A. C., Lobo, D. D., Cortes, L., de Almeida, L. P., Nobre, R. J. Isolation of Adeno-Associated Viral Vectors Through a Single-Step and Semi-Automated Heparin Affinity Chromatography Protocol. J. Vis. Exp. (206), e66550, doi:10.3791/66550 (2024).
- Ferreira-Marques M, Carvalho A, Franco AC, Leal A, Botelho M, Carmo-Silva S, Águas R, Cortes L, Lucas V, Real AC, López-Otín C, Nissan X, de Almeida LP, Cavadas C, Aveleira CA. Ghrelin delays premature aging in Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome. Aging Cell. 2023 Dec;22(12):e13983. doi: 10.1111/acel.13983. Epub 2023 Oct 19. PMID: 37858983; PMCID: PMC10726901.
- Sebastião AI, Mateus D, Carrascal MA, Sousa C, Cortes L, Bachmann MF, do Carmo A, Matos AM, Sales MGF, Cruz MT. CuMV VLPs Containing the RBM from SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein Drive Dendritic Cell Activation and Th1 Polarization. Pharmaceutics. 2023 Mar 2;15(3):825. doi: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15030825. PMID: 36986686; PMCID: PMC10055701.
- Lopes, M.M., Paysan, J., Rino, J. et al. A new protocol for whole-brain biodistribution analysis of AAVs by tissue clearing, light-sheet microscopy and semi-automated spatial quantification. Gene Ther 29, 665–679 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41434-022-00372-z
- Vaz CV, Oliveira AS, Silva A, Cortes L, Correia S, Ferreira R, Breitenfeld L, Martinez-de-Oliveira J, Palmeira-de-Oliveira R, Pereira CF, Cruz MT, Palmeira-de-Oliveira A. Protective role of Portuguese natural mineral waters on skin aging: in vitro evaluation of anti-senescence and anti-oxidant properties. Int J Biometeorol. 2022 Oct;66(10):2117-2131. doi: 10.1007/s00484-022-02345-8. Epub 2022 Aug 22. PMID: 35994120.
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Aveleira CA, Ferreira-Marques M, Cortes L,
Valero J, Pereira D, Pereira de Almeida L, Cavadas C. Neuropeptide Y
Enhances Progerin Clearance and Ameliorates the Senescent Phenotype of
Human Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria Syndrome Cells. J Gerontol A Biol Sci
Med Sci. 2020 May 22;75(6):1073-1078. doi: 10.1093/gerona/glz280. PMID:
32012215; PMCID: PMC7243588.
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Curto P, Santa C, Cortes L, Manadas B, Simões I. Spotted Fever Group Rickettsia
Trigger Species-Specific Alterations in Macrophage Proteome Signatures
with Different Impacts in Host Innate Inflammatory Responses. Microbiol
Spectr. 2021 Dec 22;9(3):e0081421. doi: 10.1128/spectrum.00814-21. Epub
2021 Dec 22. PMID: 34935429; PMCID: PMC8693926.
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Ribeiro LF, Catarino T, Carvalho M, Cortes L,
Santos SD, Opazo PO, Ribeiro LR, Oliveiros B, Choquet D, Esteban JA,
Peça J, Carvalho AL. Ligand-independent activity of the ghrelin receptor
modulates AMPA receptor trafficking and supports memory formation. Sci
Signal. 2021 Feb 16;14(670):eabb1953. doi: 10.1126/scisignal.abb1953.
PMID: 33593997.
- Nepovimova E, Svobodova L, Dolezal R, Hepnarova V, Junova L, Jun D, Korabecny J, Kucera T, Gazova Z, Motykova K, Kubackova J, Bednarikova Z, Janockova J, Jesus C, Cortes L, Pina J, Rostohar D, Serpa C, Soukup O, Aitken L, Hughes RE, Musilek K, Muckova L, Jost P, Chvojkova M, Vales K, Valis M, Chrienova Z, Chalupova K, Kuca K. Tacrine – Benzothiazoles: Novel class of potential multitarget anti-Alzheimeŕs drugs dealing with cholinergic, amyloid and mitochondrial systems. Bioorg Chem. 2021 Feb;107:104596. doi: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2020.104596. Epub 2020 Dec 28. PMID: 33421953.
Job Shadowing
- Facility Management
- User Training
- Tissue Clearing
- Laser Microdissection