A system and method are provided for simplifying and accelerating the screening and characterization of molecular interactions by high-throughput functional screening and sequencing of single cells. More specifically, a platform is provided which combines a solid support and an innovative method for capturing and barcoding of nucleic acids that allows simultaneous phenotyping and genotyping of >100, 000s of cells.

The disclosed technology relates to the field of nucleic acid sequencing, and more particularly, to systems and methods for DNA sequencing utilizing a single optical excitation and at least three fluorescent labels. In some embodiments, the disclosed technology uses a first nucleotide coupled to a first fluorescent label which can emit light to be detectable by a first detector, a second nucleotide coupled to a second fluorescent label which can emit light to be detectable by a second detector, a third nucleotide coupled to a third fluorescent label which can emit light to be detectable by both the first and second detectors, and a fourth nucleotide coupled to no fluorescent label. The disclosed technology may identify a nucleotide in the nucleic acid sequence based on whether the emission is received by the first detector, the second detector, both the first and second detectors, or neither the first nor second detector.

An optical system is presented for optically imaging a sample including a nanoscale object. The optical system includes an imaging lens, an illumination source configured to provide an excitation light, a detector and a substrate for supporting the sample. A sample interface, arranged to reflect the excitation light, is formed between the sample and a first side of the substrate facing the sample when the sample is applied on the substrate. The optical imaging system is arranged such that the excitation light is sent into the substrate via the imaging lens and such that the detector receives a reference light and a scattered light. The reference light comprises a part of the excitation light reflected at the sample interface and collected by the imaging lens and the scattered light comprises a part of the excitation light scattered by the nanoscale object and collected by the imaging lens. The optical system is configured such that the nanoscale object is imaged at the detector, in response to the excitation light, by an optical contrast of an interference pattern between the reference light and the scattered light. The substrate comprises an optical coating disposed on the first side of the substrate such that the sample is in contact with the optical coating when the sample is applied on the substrate. A degree of reflection of the excitation light at the sample interface is such that the optical contrast is larger compared to the optical contrast obtained with the sample interface formed without the optical coating.

The present invention provides a method for detecting and assaying Clostridium neurotoxins and identification of serotypes of botulinum neurotoxins in various food matrices and clinical samples. This method is also used for detection of BoNT inside the neuronal and epithelial cells. The method comprises detecting and assaying the presence of a Clostridium neurotoxin in a sample by: exposing the sample containing a Clostridium neurotoxin to a sample comprising a novel SNAMPXIN/SNAMP universal recombinant substrate fusion protein capable of producing a detectable FRET, following cleavage; detecting and assaying the presence of the Clostridium neurotoxin by measuring a change in the energy transfer or the luminescence signal; and detecting and assaying an electrophoretic mobility pattern of one or more cleaved protein bands or a degraded protein, using a high throughput automated system to identify the different serotypes of the Clostridium neurotoxin. SNAMPXIN/SNAMP is formed from parts of BoNT substrates SNAP-25 and VAMP.

Provided herein are systems and methods for imaging using a microscope system comprising removeable or replaceable component parts. Such systems and methods employ semi-kinetic coupling for easy, tool-free attachment of the microscope system to a baseplate. Systems and methods provided herein may comprise simultaneous imaging and stimulation using a microscope system. The microscope system can have a relatively small size compared to an average microscope system.

Disclosed is a fluorescence image analyzer for measuring and analyzing a sample that includes a plurality of cells in which target portions are labeled with fluorescent dyes, and the fluorescence image analyzer includes a light source configured to apply light to the sample; an imaging unit configured to take a fluorescence image of each of the cells by which fluorescence is generated by applying the light; a processing unit configured to process the fluorescence image having been taken; and a display unit. The processing unit obtains a bright point pattern of fluorescence in the fluorescence image, causes the display unit to display a plurality of positive patterns that are previously associated with at least one of a measurement item or a labeling reagent, and causes the display unit to display information of at least one of the number of abnormal cells included in the sample, a proportion of the number of the abnormal cells, the number of normal cells included in the sample, and a proportion of the normal cells, based on the bright point pattern having been obtained and the plurality of positive patterns.

Embodiments described herein generally relate to: sensing and/or authentication using luminescence imaging; diagnostic assays, systems, and related methods; temporal thermal sensing and related methods; and/or to emissive species, such as those excitable by white light, and related systems and methods.

A control system for automatedly determining an illumination intensity of at least one light source of a fluorescence microscope is provided. The control system is configured to automatedly determine, after a change in a light path, a control value for the illumination intensity of the at least one light source in order to achieve a desired value of an inspection parameter characterizing sample inspection. The light path comprises at least one of: an illumination path from the at least one light source to the sample and an imaging path from the sample to at least one detector. Determining the control value is based on: (i) a value of the illumination intensity that was set before the change in the light path, (ii) a value of the inspection parameter used before the change in the light path, and (iii) a physical model of the light path.

A system for assaying forces applied by cells includes an optically transparent substrate comprising a soft material having a Young's modulus within the range of about 3 kPa to about 100 kPa. An array of molecular patterns is disposed on a surface of the optically transparent substrate, the molecular patterns include fluorophore-conjugated patterns adherent to cells. The system includes at least one light source configured to excite the fluorophore-conjugated patterns and an imaging device configured to capture fluorescent light emitted from the fluorophore-conjugated patterns. Dimensional changes in the size of the patterns are used to determine contractile forces imparted by cells located on the patterns.

The present invention relates to a method for analyzing and selecting a specific droplet among a plurality of droplets (4), comprising the following steps: —providing a plurality of droplets (4), —for a droplet (4) among the plurality of droplets, measuring at least two optical signals, each optical signal being representative of a light intensity spatial distribution in the droplet for an associated wavelength channel, —calculating a plurality of parameters from the optical signals, —determining a sorting class for a droplet according to calculated parameters, —sorting said droplet according to its sorting class, wherein the plurality of parameters comprises the coordinates of a maximum for each optical signal and a co-localization parameter and the at least two calculated parameters used for the determining step comprises the co-localization parameter.