"Optical fluorescence nanoscopy for the visualization of dynamic subcellular structures in situ"

Abstract:

Unravelling the structure and function of organelles and macromolecular complexes within the neuronal network presents a challenge due to their small size, heterogeneity, and dynamic behaviour. Conventional microscopy techniques lack the resolution and speed needed to capture these processes in living cells. In our lab, we develop novel optical methods to enable gentler and faster super-resolution imaging of nanoscale structures in living cells. Leveraging these advancements, we have uncovered the structural and dynamic reorganization of various organelles in neurons.  Furthermore, we developed event-triggered STED, an automated multiscale method that rapidly initiates two-dimensional (2D) and 3D STED imaging in response to cellular events. This technique has allowed us to visualize synaptic vesicle dynamics triggered by local calcium activity and track processes such as vesicle endo- and exocytosis at rates up to 24 Hz. This new approach significantly enhances the capabilities of live nanoscale imaging, enabling novel real-time biological insights.

Biography:

I obtained my PhD in Nanotechnology from the University of Trieste, Italy, in 2015. During the three years of research, I developed novel optical methods to measure the viscoelastic properties of mammalian cells, in the context of breast tumors. In July 2015, I joined Ilaria Testa´s group at SciLifeLab-KTH, in Stockholm, Sweden, where I expanded my interest in microscopy to super resolution optical techniques, applying them to the field of neuroscience. My research focuses on investigating the intricate network of mitochondria, their nanoscale organization and their dynamic interactions with organelles within the complex morphology of neurons. To achieve this, I combine advanced optical methods with innovative labelling strategies to expand the possibilities for live-cell fluorescence nanoscopy of organelles in neurons.