Microscopic Techniques - MB160C45E

• Title: Microscopic Techniques
• Czech title: Mikroskopická technika
• Form of teaching: block practicals
• Guaranteed by: Department of Parasitology (31-161)
• Faculty: Faculty of Science
• Actual: from 2025
• Duration in semesters: 1
• Semester: winter
• E-Credits: 2
• Examination process: winter s.:
• Hours per week, examination: winter s.:0/20, C [HS]
• Capacity: 16
• Maximum number of enrolled students: 16
• Min. number of students: unlimited
• 4EU+: no
• Virtual mobility / capacity: no
• State of the course: taught
• Language: English
• Is provided by: MB160C42
• Note: priority enrollment if the course is part of the study plan
• Guarantor: doc. RNDr. Jovana Sádlová, Ph.D.
• Teacher(s): prof. RNDr. Jana Albrechtová, Ph.D.; RNDr. Tomáš Bečvář, Ph.D.; RNDr. Barbora Bečvářová, Ph.D.; Mgr. Aleš Benda, Ph.D.; RNDr. Jana Bulantová, Ph.D.; RNDr. Iva Hammerbauerová, Ph.D.; Mgr. Eva Hejduková, Ph.D.; Mgr. Anna Hošková; RNDr. Miroslav Hyliš, Ph.D.; Mgr. Kristýna Jelínková; RNDr. Petr Jan Juračka, Ph.D.; Mgr. Piotr Michal Jurkiewicz, Ph.D.; Mgr. Jan Kollár, Ph.D.; Mgr. Kateřina Kopalová, Ph.D.; Mgr. David Liebl, Ph.D.; Ing. Jiří Mikšátko, Ph.D.; Mgr. Marie Olšinová, Ph.D.; Ing. Dalibor Pánek, Ph.D.; RNDr. Lenka Procházková, Ph.D.; Ing. Petra Prokšová, Ph.D.; Mgr. Adéla Přibylová, Ph.D.; doc. RNDr. Jovana Sádlová, Ph.D.; RNDr. Veronika Sacherová, Ph.D.; RNDr. Aleš Soukup, Ph.D.; Mgr. Ondřej Šebesta; Mgr. Kristýna Štěpánová; Mgr. Vojtěch Vajs
• Is incompatible with: MB160C45, MB160C42

Annotation

English

“Microscopic Techniques” is a course designed to introduce students to various types of microscopy (light microscopy, fluorescence microscopy, and electron microscopy) and the practical application of these techniques on model examples (counting microscopic objects and digital image analysis). The course consists of five blocks, and active participation in all five parts of the course is required. The credit is given after the finalisation of all the protocols in paper or electronic form. Teachers from different departments are involved in the teaching, and the individual blocks are spread throughout the semester.

Information about parallel courses for each block can be found in the Moodle system (Moodle for teaching 2/ Faculty of Science/Biology section/Department of Parasitology/MB160C45E Microscopic Techniques 25/26). The registration key is "Microscope-2025."

For block 1, bring an A4 or unlined notebook, a pencil and a lab coat.

If you encounter any problems, please do not hesitate to contact us:
Block 1 and 2 and general questions about the course: Dr. Jovana Sádlová, [e-mail].
Block 3: Dr. Veronika Sacherová, [e-mail]
Block 4: Prof. Jana Albrechtová, [e-mail].
Block 5: Dr. Aleš Benda, [e-mail]

Looking forward to your participation,
Jovana Sadlova and colleagues

Last update: Sádlová Jovana, doc. RNDr., Ph.D. (26.08.2026)

Czech

„Mikroskopická technika“ je kurz, jehož cílem je seznámit studenty s různými typy mikroskopie (světelná mikroskopie, fluorescenční a elektronová mikroskopie) a s praktickým využitím těchto technik na modelových příkladech (počítání mikroskopických objektů, digitální analýza obrazu). Kurz se skládá z 5 bloků. Je nutná aktivní účast na všech pěti částech kurzu. Na 1. blok si přineste sešit formátu A4 nebo nelinkovaný sešit, tužku a laboratorní plášť. Zápočet se uděluje po dokončení všech protokolů v papírové nebo elektronické podobě. Na výuce se podílejí vyučující z různých kateder a jednotlivé bloky jsou rozloženy do celého semestru. O čase konání předmětu vás budou informovat garanti jednotlivých bloků, na které se můžete obracet se svými dotazy:
Dotazy k blokům 1 a 2 a obecné dotazy k předmětu: Jovana Sádlová, [e-mail].
Blok 3: Veronika Sacherová, [e-mail].
Blok 4: Prof. Jana Albrechtová, [e-mail].
Blok 5: Mgr: Mgr: Dr. Aleš Benda, [e-mail]

Last update: Sádlová Jovana, doc. RNDr., Ph.D. (26.08.2026)

Literature

Books:

Murphy D.B., Davidson M.W.: Fundamentals of Light Microscopy and Electronic Imaging, Wiley-Blackwell 2013, 2nd edition, ISBN-13: 978-0471692140, ISBN-10: 047169214X

Alberts B, Johnson A, Lewis J, et al. Molecular Biology of the Cell. 4th edition. New York: Garland Science; 2002. Looking at the Structure of Cells in the Microscope. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK26880/

Microscopy companies' websites:

• www.microscopyu.com/index.html
• zeiss-campus.magnet.fsu.edu
• www.olympusmicro.com
• www.leica-microsystems.com/science-lab

 

Last update: SADLOVA/NATUR.CUNI.CZ (08.06.2022)

Course assessment methods and requirements for successful completion, grading scheme

A condition for obtaining credit is the completion of all five blocks and submission of a report (block 1) or completion of an electronic test (blocks 2-5).

Last update: SADLOVA/NATUR.CUNI.CZ (26.08.2024)

Syllabus

The course consists of five parts.

1. Light microscopy (Sádlová, Vojtková, Bečvář, Hammerbauerová, Jelínková, Vajs)
Introduction to the basic theory of light microscopy and handling the light microscope. Students will prepare native and stained microscopic slides (Giemsa-Romanowski staining, aniline blue and native alizarin staining). The techniques will be demonstrated on protozoa with various taxonomic affiliation and helminths.

2. Special light and fluorescence microscopy (Sádlová, Vojtková, Bečvář, Hammerbauerová, Jelínková, Vajs)
Students will be introduced into the basics of the theory of contrasts in the light microscopy (dark field, phase contrast, DIC, Hoffman contrast), fluorescence and confocal microscopy. They will practically learn the work with dark field, phase contrast and fluorescence microscope. 

3. Electron microscopy (Sacherová, Juračka, Hyliš)
Students will be introduced into the theory of electron microscopy and preparation of specimens. They will have chance to work practically with scanning and transmission electron microscope and prepare simple specimens. 

4. Introduction to the image analysis (Albrechtová, Přibylová, Soukup et al.)
In this section, students learn the basics of digitization and image processing and basic operations of image analysis. Practical exercises are conducted in the program ImageJ (National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA, URL: http://imagej.nih.gov). More on the website of Block 4.

5. Advanced fluorescence and electron microscopy - excursion to the Service Laboratory of Imaging Methods BIOCEV (Aleš Benda, David Liebl, Dalibor Pánek, Piotr Jurkiewicz, Petra Prokšová, Marie Olšinová, Jiří Mikšátko, Daniela Popelková, Eva Ďurinová, Pelin Sunguret al.) Students will be introduced into assets and basic principles of advanced microscopical methods (Super-Resolution, Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging Microscopy (FLIM), Correlative Light Electron Microscopy) with excursion to the service laboratory and presentation of individual microscopes (STED microscope, STORM and SIM microscope, MP microscope, FLIM microscope, SEM microscope).

 

Last update: Sádlová Jovana, doc. RNDr., Ph.D. (03.09.2026)

Learning outcomes

After successful completion of the course, the student will have achieved the following:

Knowledge

1. Explains the physical principles of light, fluorescence, and electron microscopy, including the differences between individual contrast types and imaging modes.
2. Describes the principles of biological sample preparation for both light and electron microscopy, including basic staining methods.
3. Characterizes the principles of fluorescence, confocal microscopy, and selected advanced imaging methods (super-resolution microscopy, FLIM, TIRF, CLEM).
4. Summarizes the basic procedures of digitization, processing, and analysis of microscopic images.

Skills

1. Safely and correctly operates a light microscope and selects an appropriate type of contrast for a given biological specimen.
2. Prepares native and stained samples for light microscopy and performs their microscopic evaluation.
3. Applies dark-field, phase-contrast, and fluorescence microscopy in practice.
4. Demonstrates basic orientation in the operation of scanning and transmission electron microscopes.
5. Performs basic processing and analysis of microscopic images using ImageJ software (image adjustment, measurements, simple quantification).
6. Interprets microscopic data and presents them appropriately.

Competences

1. Critically evaluates the suitability of individual microscopic methods for addressing specific biological or biomedical questions.
2. Is familiar with the capabilities of modern imaging technologies used in research laboratories.
3. Works in accordance with the principles of good laboratory practice and safety regulations related to microscopic techniques.

Last update: Sádlová Jovana, doc. RNDr., Ph.D. (27.01.2026)