Location: McKnight Brain Institute, 1st Floor
Description:
The Keyence BZ-X800 is a next-generation, fully automated all-in-one fluorescence microscope designed for flexible imaging of both fixed and live samples. The MBI Microscopy Core operates two BZ-X800 systems with complementary optical configurations:
- Keyence 1 (Plan Apo lenses): High-resolution imaging optimized for fixed samples and coverslips
- Keyence 2 (Plan Fluor lenses): Long working-distance objectives ideal for live-cell imaging in plates and time-lapse workflows
Both systems support fluorescence, brightfield, and phase-contrast imaging without the need for a darkroom. The platform enables optical sectioning (Z-stacks), automated stitching, time-lapse acquisition, and a suite of quantitative analysis tools.
Useful features include haze-reduction/deblurring for enhanced contrast, adjustable filtering options, and compatibility with the BZ-X Viewer/Analyzer software for offline analysis and batch export.
Uses:
- High-resolution fluorescence imaging with optical sectioning (Z-stacks)
- Automated XY and XYZ stitching for large-area tiled datasets
- Time-lapse incubation for live-cell imaging (Keyence 2)
- Quantitative image analysis, including hybrid and macro cell counting
- 3D applications (Keyence 1) and time-lapse/advanced observation (Keyence 2)
- Imaging across fluorescence, brightfield, and phase-contrast modes
- Suitable for neuroscience, stem cell research, cancer biology, developmental biology, and high-content screening
Additional capabilities:
- Deconvolution-like haze reduction to improve clarity (Keyence 1)
- Long working-distance optics for multi-well plates (Keyence 2)
- Offline analysis in BZ-X Viewer with TIFF/AVI export options
Instrumentation generously provided by Dr. Sara Burke.