Advances in Morphological Methodology

Duration

20h Th

Number of credits

Lecturer

Sandra Ormenese

Language(s) of instruction

English language

Organisation and examination

Teaching in the second semester

Schedule

Schedule online

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

• 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

• 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 course has just changed holder, an error has slipped into the title. It is in fact 12h Th and 8h TP. This error will be corrected for the year 2021-2022. Similarly, this course does not exist in the first quadrimester, this error will also be corrected.
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)

Hybrid or distance learning depending on sanitary conditions. All lessons will be recorded via "Collaborate" and made available to students.

Organisational adjustments related to the current health context

In green code, the theoretical part will be given in hybrid.
In yellow or orange code, the theoretical part will be given in distance learning.
If the practical work part cannot take place in face to face within the GIGA Cellular Imaging and Flow Cytometry platform because of the situation related to covid19 (yellow or orange code), the practical part will be organized around articles to read and present in group, in distance learning.

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.

Assessment methods and criteria

Below you will find information on the evaluation methods planned for in-person and remote exams as well as those planned for hybrid sessions. Depending on how the health crisis evolves, the chosen method will be communicated to you no later than one month before the start of the exam session.

Any session :

- In-person

oral exam

- Remote

oral exam

- If evaluation in "hybrid"

preferred in-person


Additional information:

closed book oral exam

Work placement(s)

not applicable

Organizational remarks

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

Items online