A microscopy network in West Africa
Max Delbrück Center scientists taught a six-day workshop in Dakar, Senegal to help transform the landscape of microscopy and image analysis in West Africa. During the workshop, organizers trained participants with hands-on exercises in modern imaging techniques. The goal was to increase awareness of the potential of microscopy in biological research and to enable scientists to build and operate 3D-printable OpenFlexure microscopes – devices they could use in their home institutions.
The workshop is the seventh of a series held in various African countries since 2018, all coordinated by the West Africa Microscopy & Bio-Image Analysis Network (WAMBIAN). In addition to the Max Delbrück Center, other partners include the Laboratoire de Génomique of the Université Cheikh Anta Diop (UCAD), and the Max Delbrück Center-Weizmann Helmholtz International Research School for Imaging and Data Science from the NAno to the MESo (iNAMES). The workshop was funded by the iNAMES Research School and the Max Delbrück Center Diversity project.
Dr. Peran Hayes of the Max Delbrück Center led the teaching team alongside iNAMES doctoral students Lison Guillaume, Facundo Rueda, and Paula Santos Otte. “We aim to strengthen ties between local and international research bodies and to create a network for West African scientists interested in using microscopy,” says Hayes, who organized the first workshop in Ghana during a year of globetrotting after he completed his PhD.
The most recent workshop focused on teaching participants fluorescence microscopy techniques, applications of light microscopy and realistic, low cost, practical solutions that can allow Senegalese researchers to begin harnessing the power of imaging, says Hayes. What follows is a photo essay of the of six-day workshop.
Opening day:
Prof. Mbacké Sembene, director of the Laboratoire de Genomique of the UCAD, where the workshop is being hosted, leads the opening ceremony. The hosts provided t-shirts for all the course participants.
Labeling DNA:
Lison Guillaume teaches students to fluorescently label blood samples that have been infected with the malaria parasite. One of the labels binds to DNA, and since red blood cells have no DNA, any detected fluorescence is a signal that the sample is positive for DNA from the malaria parasite.
Analyzing images:
Students are shown a lookup table. The different colors represent different levels of brightness. They can assign colors to values to visualize different features in their images.
Interpreting images:
Students are taught how to use FIJI software to extract quantifiable information from their images. The software is used to extract such information from sample images as the roundness of cells.
Building a microscope:
The Max Delbrück Center scientists took an epiflorescence microscope apart and put it back together during the workshop. “It was a cool learning experience” says Hayes. “The students got to see all the parts one needs to build a microscope.”
The microscope filter wheel:
Paula Santos Otte holds up a filter wheel, a key piece of microscopes, needed to analyze florescence. The round wheel contains a series of filter cubes, each cube contains 3 layers of colored glass. A single filter cube can cost a few thousand euros.
Support Peran Hayes
Please join us in supporting Peran Hayes as our contestant in this year’s EU-LIFE Science Vision Talk Contest on May 22nd, which will take place during the EU-LIFE Community Meeting in Brno, Czech Republic. The contest will be broadcast live from Brno to all EU-LIFE member institutes. A total of 17 enthusiastic scientists will take part. Each will present their science and will use music, song, dance and costumes to fight their way to the top!
The Max Delbrück Center will host two public viewing events, one at campus Buch and the other at MDC-BIMSB from 15:00 to 18:00. All Max Delbrück Center employees are invited to attend the live event to cheer the contestants on and to cast their votes for a winner. Family and friends are also welcome!
What? EU-LIFE Science Vision Talk Contest
When? May 22 15:00-18:00
Where?
Max Delbrück Center, Campus Buch, Axon 2
MDC-BIMSB, Large Conference Room
