De elektronische studiegids voor het academiejaar 2025 - 2026 is onder voorbehoud.





Advanced Light Microscopy (3979)

  
Coordinating lecturer :Prof. dr. Jelle HENDRIX 
  
Co-lecturer :Prof. dr. Werend BOESMANS 
  
Member of the teaching team :De heer Arnoud JONGELING 
 Mevrouw Keerthana RAMANATHAN 
 De heer Pedro SILVA 
 De heer Tom KACHE 


Language of instruction : English


Credits: 4,0
  
Period: quarter 4 (4sp)
  
2nd Chance Exam1: Yes
  
Final grade2: Numerical
 
Exam contract: not possible


 
Sequentiality
 
   No sequentiality

Content

Because of its widespread availability, capabilities, non-invasiveness, sensitivity and specificity, light (& fluorescence) microscopy is an immensely popular research tool in the life sciences. Countless examples exist in literature where microscopy complemented other research methods to provide new and detailed insights in the workings of complex biological mechanism, insights that often cannot be obtained by any other method. Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET), for example, allows measuring subcellular mechanical forces that arise when cell polarize and migrate during angiogenesis. Image correlation spectroscopy, for example, allows studying the nucleation process of the structural HIV-1 Gag protein during viral assembly in infected T cells. Super-resolution microscopy methods, for example, allow mapping out the cellular morphology of the nucleopore, the gateway to the cell nucleus. Nowadays, many types of light microscopes, imaging modalities and analysis methods exist, making it hard for young researchers and students to choose the best method for a particular application.

Content

- The principles of the main classic light microscopy methods are refreshed, to synchronize everyone s knowledge.

- The principles of the different popular advanced imaging families (e.g. correlation, fluorescence lifetime, FRET, single-molecule, super-resolution, non-linear and label-free methods) and associated fluorescent labels and labeling strategies (fluorescent proteins, dyes, non-natural amino acid labeling via click chemistry, suicide enzyme labeling, anti/nanobodies ) that have emerged in late years are introduced using an examples from literature -approach, although the necessary physical-mathematical details are available for the interested student.

- Through a mixture of lectures, assignments, student presentations, microscopy demos, pc analysis classes and hands-on experiments, the student gets a feeling for the different families, what their advantages and limitations are, and is trained to identify the imaging methods that are used in scientific publications.

Learning goals

The student can

- describe the illumination and image formation principle of the main light microscopy techniques.

- describe the physical principles of advanced light microscopy techniques for achieving high spatial and/or temporal resolution

- describe the advantages and limitations of a light microscopy method in the context of temporal and spatial resolution, compatibility with live samples, label requirements, essential microscope components,

- describe the properties of different fluorescent labels, and the principles, advantages and limitations of different labeling strategies.

- search for the appropriate information regarding a particular imaging method, and describe its principles, advantages and limitations in a report or presentation.

- search for and select an application of a given light microscopy method, and identify the used labeling strategy(y/ies) and dye(s), and the research question(s) that was/were answered via imaging.

- identify in multimodal imaging papers the different research methods (light microscopy and other) that were employed to answer the research question(s), and describe their complementarity.

- work with particular advanced light microscopes, and carry out specific quantitative data or image analyses via advanced computer software.



Organisational and teaching methods
Organisational methods  
Case session  
Lecture  
Practical  
Small group session  
Teaching methods  
Demonstration  
Group work  
Homework  
Presentation  
Report  


Evaluation

Period 4    Credits 4,00

Evaluation method
Written evaluaton during teaching periode15 %
Transfer of partial marks within the academic year
Conditions transfer of partial marks within the academic yearThe student has to pass in order to transfer this partial score to the second chance exam.
Oral evaluation during teaching period20 %
Transfer of partial marks within the academic year
Conditions transfer of partial marks within the academic yearThe student has to pass in order to transfer this partial score to the second chance exam.
Presentation
Written exam65 %
Oral explanation
Evaluation conditions (participation and/or pass)
Conditions Presence at the demos and the oral presentation of the paper is obligatory. The evaluation consists of multiple parts. For all parts of the evaluation, at least a score of 8/20 must be obtained in order to pass for the course.
Consequences Students who are unauthorized absent at one or more demos and/or the oral presentation of the paper, receive as final grade for the course a N - unjustified absence and have to attend the practicum in the next academic year and have to meet the requirements (e.g. a signed report) to receive their final grade. The student needs to re-enroll in the course in the next academic year. In this case, partial grades can be transferred to the next academic year. A student who achieves a score lower than 8/20 on one (or more) parts of the evaluation will receive a 'F fail' as final result. This final result is not tolerable. A student who scores at least 8/20 for all parts of the evaluation receives as score the weighted average of the different points. This final mark is tolerable. Eg. 8/20 + 16/20 = 12/20 (passed).
Additional information

Written evaluation during teaching period: Tests of pre-recorded demos and a report of hands-on demos.

Oral evaluation during teaching period: Presentation of a chosen paper.


Second examination period

Evaluation second examination opportunity different from first examination opprt
No
 

Compulsory course material
 

All study material will be available on blackboard.



Learning outcomes
Bachelor of Physics
  •  EC 
  • EC 3: A graduate of the Bachelor of Physics programme is able to use models and techniques from physics and other scientific domains to solve multidisciplinary problems.

  •  EC 
  • EC 6: A graduate of the Bachelor of Physics programme is able toapply, under supervision,the acquired knowledge and insights to perform scientific research.

  •  EC 
  • EC 7: A graduate of the Bachelor of Physics programme is able to apply the mathematical methods which are used in physics and possesses good numerical skills, including computational techniques and programming skills.

  •  EC 
  • EC 8: A graduate of the Bachelor of Physics programme is able to acquire, in an independent and self-managing manner,basic knowledge in a discipline of physics which has not been dealt with within the programme.

  •  EC 
  • EC 12: A graduate of the Bachelor of Physics is able to communicate, report and present to colleaguesin a correct and appropriate manner.

 

Bachelor of Chemistry
  •  EC 
  • EC 3:A graduate of the Bachelor ofChemistry programme has knowledge ofand insight inrelated fields of science such as physics, biology, geology and engineering sciences. He or she is able to communicate adequately with representatives of these fields.

  •  EC 
  • EC 4: A graduate of the Bachelor of Chemistry programme has knowledge of and insight inmathematics, he or she is able to correctly use mathematical and statistical concepts and methods in approaching, solving and analyzing chemical problems and is able to draw a well-founded conclusion accordingly

  •  EC 
  • EC 5: A graduate of the Bachelor of Chemistry programme is able tounderstand experiments, to independently carry them out and to report on them. Additionally, he or she is able to assess the risks and to apply adequate safety procedures.

  •  EC 
  • EC 6: A graduate of the Bachelor of Chemistry programme shows a healthy critical attitude and is able to rigorously and carefully reason, abstract and formulate.

  •  EC 
  • EC 7: A graduate of the Bachelor of Chemistry is able to independently and in a self-managing manner acquire knowledgeand insight inchemistry and related fields, which was not covered in the programme.

  •  EC 
  • EC 8: A graduate of the Bachelor of Chemistrytakes intoaccountthe necessity of the interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary approach in analyzing chemical and biochemical questions.

  •  EC 
  • EC 10: A graduate of the Bachelor of Chemistry is able to report and to present orally and in writing in Dutch and in English and to take an argumented point of view regarding a topic from his/her discipline. He or she is able to communicate with colleagues and non-colleagues.

 

Master of Biomedical Sciences
  •  EC 
  • 1. A graduate of the Master of Biomedical Sciences has a thorough knowledge of the molecular and cellular processes of the healthy and diseased organism and has insight in different methods for prevention, diagnosis and therapy of diseases.

  •  EC 
  • 4. A graduate of the Master of Biomedical Sciences has knowledge of state-of-the-art techniques within biomedical research and is able to apply these techniques, taking into account the applicable quality standards.

  •  EC 
  • 5. A graduate of the Master of Biomedical Sciences can independently process and statistically analyze research results, and formulate conclusions. 

  •  EC 
  • 6. A graduate of the Master of Biomedical Sciences  can report scientific findings in writing and orally to both experts and a wide audience in a structured way.

  •  EC 
  • 7. A graduate of the Master of Biomedical Sciences takes a critical attitude towards one's own research and that of others.   

 

Master of Teaching in Sciences and Technology
  •  EC 
  • 5.4. The master of education is a domain expert SCIENCES: the EM has advanced knowledge and understanding of the domain disciplines relevant to the specific subject doctrine(s).

 

  EC = learning outcomes      DC = partial outcomes      BC = evaluation criteria  
Offered inTolerance3
1st year Master of Biomedical Sciences - Bioelectronics and Nanotechnology J
1st year Master of Biomedical Sciences - Environmental Health Sciences J
1st year Master of Biomedical Sciences - Molecular Mechanisms in Health and Disease J
3rd year Bachelor of Chemistry package free choice addition J
3rd year Bachelor of Physics option Nano/Biophysics J
3th year Bachelor of Physics option free choice addition J
Exchange Programme Physics J
first year Master of Biomedical Sciences - Clinical Biomedical Sciences J
Master of Teaching in Sciences and Technology - choice for subject didactics Physics J



1   Education, Examination and Legal Position Regulations art.12.2, section 2.
2   Education, Examination and Legal Position Regulations art.15.1, section 3.
3   Education, Examination and Legal Position Regulations art.16.9, section 2.