Biological Electron Microscopy Facility

Using electron microscopes to explore the biological world.

 
The BioEM Facility is a laboratory specialising in the preparation and imaging of all types of biological samples using scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The laboratories are located in the AI building of the School of Life Sciences. For any enquiries about sample preparation, imaging, and training please contact any of the BioEM staff.
 

Latest news

The group of Hilal Lashuel publishes an extensive study in the journal PNAS in which the progression of Lewy body formation is tracked in cells. This includes transmission electron microscopy with immunocytochemistry. See the EPFL news here. The research article can be viewed here.

TEM in Parkinson’s disease

The group of Hilal Lashuel publishes an extensive study in the journal PNAS in which the progression of Lewy body formation is tracked in cells. This includes transmission electron microscopy with immunocytochemistry. See the EPFL news here. The research article can be viewed here.

Block face scanning EM in Alzheimer’s Disease

A study lead by Gilles Bonvento (Paris) explores astrocytic metabolism and mechanistic link that connects defective glycolysis in astrocytes to impaired l-serine production and reduced neuronal function. Supplementation with L-serine in a mouse model of Alzheimer’s restores cognitive deficits. This study used the block-face scanning electron microscopy services offered by the BioEM Facility. The study is published in the journal Cell Metabolism, and can be viewed here.

Cryo-fixed dendritic spines

The BioEM facility has investigated the structure of dendritic spines in cryo-fixed brain tissue and compared these with those fixed by aldehydes. A detailed morphological analysis shows few changes, however, cryo-fixed spines have significantly thinner necks. A preliminary paper is now available on BioRxiv here.

Graham Knott, office AI0143
tel: +41 21 6931862