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In recent years, light microscopy has largely contributed to the understanding of many biological processes in living matter.
Sub-cellular resolution has been attained using higher resolution, yet still diffraction-limited, methods such confocal and
two-photon microscopy. However many of the cellular processes happen on a nano-meter spatial scale and are therefore not
accessible to the traditional diffraction-limited instruments.
Super-resolution (STED, SSIM) or superlocalization (PALM, STORM) techniques is thus of considerable interest and summon a large
community. All these techniques demonstrated resolutions down to macromolecular scale, each of which having its own advantages
and constraints. Our group built up a STED microscope according to recent demonstration of its efficiency in neurosciences.
STED microscopy basically consists in scanning confocal microscope in which excited volume is limited by spatially defined
stimulated emission depletion of the fluorescence state.
In parallel, a growing effort in the field of light microscopy is currently made to develop non-scanning microscopy techniques
such as Structure Illumination Microscopy, HiLo microscopy and Temporal Focusing which - although still diffraction-limited,
have the advantage of being faster compared to conventional scanning systems.
This research activity is dedicated to the development of these new techniques and their utilisation in neurobiological
projects.
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