The Advanced Microscopy Centre carries out cross-disciplinary activities that support the laboratories of the Department of Molecular Medicine. Its main objective is the identification and characterization of morphological and ultrastructural lesions associated with various diseases, in order to assess the effectiveness of innovative treatments, including both pharmacological and advanced therapies such as cell therapy, gene therapy, immunotherapy, and nano therapy.
This work applies to both experimental models of kidney disease, in vitro and in vivo, and to biopsy specimens from patients enrolled in clinical studies or referred by the Azienda Socio-Sanitaria Territoriale (ASST) Papa Giovanni XXIII Hospital in Bergamo under a formal agreement.
SEM - GeminiSEM 360 Zeiss Scanning Electron Microscope
The Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) is a high-resolution instrument that uses an electron beam to generate extremely detailed three-dimensional images of sample surfaces, with resolution down to 1.2 nanometres. Advanced SEM techniques are used to characterise morphological and ultrastructural lesions in samples from patients with a variety of renal pathologies (both chronic and rare), as well as from experimental models. This helps to understand the mechanisms of damage involved in disease progression and to evaluate the effectiveness of pharmacological treatments. The Centre has developed innovative SEM techniques applicable to both human and experimental samples. The use of a non-conventional detector enabled the characterisation of new anatomical structures — the glomerular filtration pores — which play a key role in kidney function. Measuring their size has become an important indicator of treatment efficacy. SEM analysis of kidney biopsies from diabetic patients has shown that, in advanced stages of the disease, the loss of podocytes — specialised cells critical to kidney filtration — contributes to glomerulosclerosis and explains, at least in part, why current therapies fail to halt the decline in kidney function.
TEM - FEI Morgagni 268D Transmission Electron Microscope
The Centre houses an FEI Morgagni 268D Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM), a high-resolution instrument used in both clinical and research contexts to characterise morphological and ultrastructural lesions associated with different, including rare, diseases. Its goal is to identify drugs capable of slowing or even reversing disease progression. Due to its capacity for ultra-high-resolution imaging, the TEM is particularly useful as diagnostic support through the analysis of patient biopsy samples. Ultrastructural studies on experimental models of diabetic nephropathy, rapidly progressive autoimmune glomerulonephritis, and complement-mediated glomerulopathy have identified mediators and mechanisms that drive disease progression towards end-stage kidney failure. These analyses have supported the evaluation of drugs such as sodium-glucose co-transporter inhibitors for both diabetic and non-diabetic kidney disease. TEM analysis of cellular organelles, such as mitochondria, has enabled the study of disorders related to oxidative stress and the role of sirtuins in ageing processes. The ability to observe cells at the ultrastructural level also enabled research into the SARS-CoV-2 virus during the pandemic.
Fluorescence Microscopes
The Centre is equipped with one confocal microscope and three state-of-the-art fluorescence microscopes suitable for analysing all types of preparations. The Leica SP8 confocal microscope is the instrument of choice for acquiring high-quality fluorescence images. Thanks to the high sensitivity of HyD detectors, it enables precise localisation of proteins and the analysis of low-abundance proteins in cells, tissues, and 3D preparations such as spheroids and model organisms like zebrafish. The upright and inverted Zeiss fluorescence microscopes are used for imaging tissue and cell samples on slides or in culture plates. Both are equipped with ApoTome.2 technology, which reduces out-of-focus light and enhances image quality — especially useful for 3D reconstructions of thicker samples. A third inverted Zeiss microscope with a thermostatic chamber and CO₂ control is ideal for live-cell time-lapse experiments.
International Consensus on Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation.
