Histology Platforms
The Peter MacCallum Advanced Histology Platform provides a histology service dedicated to research.
Services and support offered
- Tissue processing and embedding
- Paraffin sectioning of tissues
- Frozen sectioning of tissues
- Immunohistochemistry
- Bone decalcification
- Staining and coverslipping
Key Equipment
- Tissue Tek VIP 6 and Leica CM3050 S Tissue processors
- Thermo fisher Cryostar NX70 Cryostats
- Medite Tes 99 Embedding centre
- Leica Jung XL Auto-stainer
- Instrumel GCS600 Coverslipper
- Dako USS Immunostainer
- Zeiss Hyrax M40 Rotary Microtomes
- Leica RM2255 Rotary Microtome
- Microm HM325 Rotary Microtome
- Leica Vibratome
- Sysmex cell analyser
Optical Microscopy Platform
The Peter MacCallum Advanced Optical Microscopy Platform incorporates multiple imaging modalities including wide-field microscopy, laser capture microscopy, laser scanning confocal microscopy, multi-photon intravital imaging, and super resolution microscopy. The multi-photon microscope is a recent addition and was purchased alongside the Zeiss Elrya super resolution confocal microscope (TIRF, SIM, PALM, dSTORM) and the fully automated slide Olympus VS120 scanner through a successful $3.5m grant from the Australian Cancer Research Foundation (ACRF). Five microscopes are dedicated to live cell imaging and are equipped with heated environmental chambers, gas control and motorized stages.
Services and support offered
Assistance with experimental design and microscope selection
Training and support on all microscopes
Imaging of fixed or living cells and tissues
Key Equipment
Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopes
Zeiss Elyra 780 Confocal Equipped with a Zeiss Observer Z1 microscope and Tokai Hit environmental chamber for live cell imaging. Laser lines for confocal; 405, 458, 488, 514, 561 and 633nm.
Olympus FV3000 confocal. Equipped with a Olympus IX83, IX3 SSU motorised stage and Ludin environmental chamber for live cell imaging. Laser lines: 405, 445, 488, 515, 561, 594 and 633nm.
Leica TCS SP5 Confocal. Equipped with a Leica DMI6000 microscope, Marzhauser motorised stage and Ludin environmental chamber for live cell imaging. Laser lines: 405, 458, 488, 514, 561 and 633nm.
Nikon C2 Confocal. Equipped with an Eclipse Ni-E microscope. Laser lines 405, 488, 561 and 640nm.
Super Resolution Microscope
- Zeiss Elyra PS1 (SIM/3D PALM/dSTORM/TIRF). Equipped with a Zeiss Observer Z1 microscope and Tokai Hit environmental chamber for live cell imaging. Laser lines for TIRF/Super-Resolution: 405, 488, 561 and 633nm.
Multiphoton Microscope
- Olympus FVMPE-RS Upright multiphoton microscope with dual pulsed lasers and a SIM scanner. Equipped with a BX63 microscope, motorised stage, heat pad, and anaesthesia apparatus for intravital imaging.
Widefield Microscopes (all equipped with DIC and epi-fluorescence)
Olympus IX83 optimised for ultra-fast image capture. Equipped with motorised Prior stage and Ludin environmental chamber for live cell imaging. Filter wheels enable 100 combinations of excitation/emission filters.
Olympus IX81 equipped with motorised Prior stage.
Olympus BX53 microscope.
Olympus BX51 microscope.
Zeiss Axiovert microscope.
Automated slide scanner
- Olympus VS120 automated slide scanner equipped with a BX61VS microscope. Brightfield, DIC and epi-fluorescence imaging is available. 100-slide capacity.
Laser capture microscope
- Veritas Laser capture microscope with IR capture laser and UV cutting laser.
Multiplex analysis
Vectra microscope for spectral separation of multiplex-IHC samples such as OPAL
Nanostring GeoMX Digital Spatial Profiler for the quantification of 96 protein or up to whole transcriptomics targets.
Electron Microscopy Platform
The Peter MacCallum Electron Microscopy Platform encompasses both scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Biological specimens are processed for ultrastructural morphological analysis and/or immuno-gold labelling of proteins. The platform houses an extensive range of ancillary equipment to facilitate a multitude of processing regimes including chemical or freeze fixation, freeze-substitution, embedding samples in different resins, and cryo-ultramicrotomy.
Services Offered
Cryofixation and freeze substitution
Cryosectioning
Tissue fixation, processing, and embedding (TEM)
Tissue fixation, processing, and automated critical point drying (SEM)
Resin sectioning
Pre- and post-embedding immunogold labelling
Imaging (SEM and TEM)
Key Equipment
Electron Microscopes
JEOL 1400 Flash Transmitted Electron Microscope.
JEOL NeoScope II Scanning Electron Microscope.
Ancillary Equipment
Leica EMCPD300 automated Critical Point Drying apparatus.
Balzers CPD300 Critical Point Drying apparatus.
Emscope SC500 Gold Sputter Coater.
EmscopeTB500 Carbon Coater.
Leica Empact High Pressure Freezer.
Leica KF80 freeze slammer.
Ultramicrotomes
Leica EMUC7 with FC7 cryo-attachment
Reichert Ultracut S with FCS cryo-attachment
Reichert Ultracut E.
Leica EM AFS2 Automatic Freeze Substitution system.
Reichert AFS Manual Freeze Substitution system.
Leica EM IGL Automatic immuno-Gold Labelling apparatus.
Image Analysis Platform
The Peter MacCallum Image Analysis Platform provides a number of high-end image analysis software programs for powerful multi-dimensional analysis. Software is also provided to design custom items for specialist imaging requirements using our 3D printer.
Key Equipment
7 High-End 64 bit computer workstations
Imaris (2 licenses)
Arivis (1 license)
Volocity (2 licenses)
Metamorph Offline (13 licenses)
FIJI/Image J
Halo/inForm/QuPath mIHC analysis packages
VS120 slide scanner Offline
Facility use
Use of the facility is available to all VCCC members and external users, subject to availability.
For further information about accessing the Centre for Advanced Histology and Microscopy please contact us via [email protected].
