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Confocal microscopy
Learn all about confocal microscopy and what it can do
What is confocal microscopy?
The confocal microscope scans a laser beam through a sample to excite molecules that are in focus. The molecules then emit photons, which are measured by a detector. A pinhole in front of the detector blocks out-of-focus light and hence improves image quality.
Confocal microscopy offers an improved resolution and signal-to-noise ratio over widefield. The ability to vary the height of the focal plane simultaneously while experimenting is also remarkably useful for 3D reconstruction of larger specimens. This method is more time-consuming than widefield in acquisition and image production and generally higher maintenance, in some cases there is also a tradeoff where some resolution is sacrificed to distinguish different structures in a given sample. Confocal Microscopy is an excellent method of optical imaging often preferred by researchers for applications involving visualization of genetic material or structural components of cells. It enables the assessment of the colocalization of structures and has had large ramifications in studies of the viability of cells.
Confocal microscopy offers an improved resolution and signal-to-noise ratio over widefield. The ability to vary the height of the focal plane simultaneously while experimenting is also remarkably useful for 3D reconstruction of larger specimens. This method is more time-consuming than widefield in acquisition and image production and generally higher maintenance, in some cases there is also a tradeoff where some resolution is sacrificed to distinguish different structures in a given sample. Confocal Microscopy is an excellent method of optical imaging often preferred by researchers for applications involving visualization of genetic material or structural components of cells. It enables the assessment of the colocalization of structures and has had large ramifications in studies of the viability of cells.
Figure 1: Three color confocal image of Cas9 binding to a single DNA molecule tethered between two optically trapped beads. Blue/green/red markers indicate the position of individual Cas9 complexes.
Solutions
C-Trap
Biomolecular interactions re-imagined
The C-Trap® provides the world’s first dynamic single-molecule microscope to allow simultaneous manipulation and visualization of single-molecule interactions in real time.
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Cell Avidity Uncovers Novel KIR:HLA binding predicting patient survival post stem cell transplant
Webinar
November 20, 2025
01-01-20
Despite significant progress in haploidentical hematopoietic cell transplantation (haploHCT) for leukemia, relapse-free survival remains a major challenge, even with the addition of immune effectors such as NK or T cells. Given the crucial role of NK cells and their killer immunoglobulin receptors (KIRs) in early anti-leukemic activity, this study sought to refine the understanding of KIR:HLA (human leukocyte antigen) interactions in order to better predict patient outcomes.Using a combination of in silico protein folding and interaction modeling with in vitro acoustic force microscopy to quantify immune synapse avidity, Peter's group identified and validated a novel functional interaction between full-length KIR2DS4 and HLA-B*35. This interaction was confirmed through cell avidity assays with monoallelic KIR and HLA cell lines. When applied to clinical data, patients who received haploHCT and NK cell addback from donors expressing only full-length KIR2DS4 showed significantly improved overall and relapse-free survival. These findings were independently validated in an adult cohort, revealing consistent survival advantages.This newly defined KIR2DS4:HLA-B*35 axis represents an immediately actionable marker for donor selection and offers a mechanistic insight into optimizing NK cell-mediated anti-leukemic responses.
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Enhancing efficacy against clear cell renal cell carcinoma through format-tuning of bispecific T cell engagers
Scientific update
January 29, 2025
01-01-20
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Cell Avidity: a key to accelerate IND filing in cell therapy drug development
Whitepaper
July 1, 2023
01-01-20
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Accelerate your cell engager discovery with high throughput measurements of Cell Avidity
Application note
June 1, 2023
01-01-20
T cells play a pivotal role in tumor immunosurveillance. Multispecific cell engagers (CEs) have been adopted in the field of immuno-oncology to redirect T cells toward cancer cells, thereby unleashing the anti-tumor potential of the patient’s immune system. CE-mediated cell binding induces T cell activation and the formation of an immunological synapse, which is a prerequisite for effective tumor cell lysis.
The strength of the initial binding events between a T cell and a tumor cell dictates the efficiency of the anti-tumor response. Assessing cell avidity, i.e. the total intercellular interaction strength between two cells, gives crucial insights into the efficacy of CEs as anti-tumor therapeutic agents.
Here, we deploy LUMICKS’ high throughput avidity measurement (HTAM) technology to measure CE-induced cell avidity in a high throughput manner. We demonstrate the assay performance characteristics, i.e. specificity, precision, and range, via CE titration experiments in the context of a Jurkat T cell model system. We find that the HTAM CA assay is suitable for candidate screening in high throughput, with high sensitivity and precision.
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Cell Therapy Case Study Collection
Brochure
September 8, 2025
01-01-20
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