Duration
12h Th, 8h Pr
Number of credits
| Master in biomedicine (120 ECTS) | 2 crédits |
Lecturer
Language(s) of instruction
English language
Organisation and examination
Teaching in the second semester
Schedule
Units courses prerequisite and corequisite
Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program
Learning unit contents
Advances in morphological methodology, title of this course, take up flow cytometry and cell imaging technologies, in the broad sense.
Flow cytometry is a discipline allowing the rapid and precise study of monodisperse particles after labeling with fluorescent probes specific to very diverse molecules (membrane antigens, cytokines, nucleic acids, viral receptors, calcium ions, etc.). This technology, which is used in particular in the diagnosis of leukemia and the complex phenotyping of lymphoid lines, is becoming essential in many research topics in biomedical sciences.
In vitro cell imaging brings together many technologies for acquiring morphological images (tissue, cell and subcellular) and is also widely used in research in the biomedical sciences to better understand many biological processes.
These two disciplines inevitably come together through the use of fluorescent probes, the excitation and detection of which is possible with comparable optical and electronic elements. It is therefore entirely wise to teach them concomitantly.
The first part of the course, entitled "General Introduction", will take up the optical and electronic bases applicable to both flow cytometry and cell imaging, in general:
- The fluorescence
- The characteristics of fluorochromes
- Optical fluorescence filters
- Light sources
- Digitalization of the light signal by photomultiplication
- The spectral overlap
Then, the specificities of each discipline will be taught in more detail:
Flow cytometry:
- Fundamentals and principles of flow cytometry
- Technical principles
- Results interpretation
- Notions of electronic compensation
- Main applications
- Cell sorting
- Introduction to various multiparametric analysis softwares in flow cytometry
- Technological advances
Cell imaging:
- General optics
- The main components of the microscope
- White light microscopy
- Fluorescence microscopy
- Confocal microscopy
- Multiphoton confocal microscopy
- Light sheet microscopy
- Resolution increase
- Image analysis and processing
Learning outcomes of the learning unit
This course will allow students to have a good foundation in morphological methodology in order to approach the rest of their course and their future professional career while being aware of the range of technological tools in morphological methodology available to them to carry out their biomedical research.
At the end of the course, students will be able to:
- Choose the best morphological methodology to answer a biological question.
- Understand the importance of technological advances in these disciplines and make the most of them.
- Know the advantages and limitations of flow cytometry and cell imaging technologies.
- Realize the importance of analyzing the results generated by these disciplines and recognize possible artefacts.
- To have the best possible bases to approach a training on an instrument related to these technologies.
Prerequisite knowledge and skills
no prerequisite
Planned learning activities and teaching methods
The theoretical course will be given in French for 12 hours supported by many slides, in English. The practical work part will be given (in French and/or in English) for 8 hours (per group of 8 students maximum) within the GIGA Cellular Imaging and Flow Cytometry platform. The latter has more than 20 instruments in this field, some of the very latest generation. The technical staff of the platform, highly qualified in these technologies, will be involved in demonstrations of certain equipment and will implement various applications in order to arouse the curiosity and interest of students.
Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)
Face-to-face course
Additional information:
Hybrid or distance learning depending on sanitary conditions.
Recommended or required readings
No recommended or required reading. The lecture notes available to students will consist of a PDF of the slides. No syllabus, students should take notes during the course.
Exam(s) in session
Any session
- In-person
oral exam
Out-of-session test(s)
Additional information:
A written test, accounting for 15% of the final score, will take place before the practical session. The final oral exam, accounting for 85% of the final score, will be held in a closed-book session.
Work placement(s)
not applicable
Organisational remarks and main changes to the course
The courses are given orally in French but the slides will be in English. Oral exams can be presented in French or English.
Contacts
Sandra Ormenese, PhD E-mail: Sandra.Ormenese@uliege.be Tél: 04/366.49.38