Carl Zeiss has launched the Axiovision Assaybuilder module, developed with Cellomics.
The high content analysis module supports the examination of processes in cells, between cells or in small organisms, and Carl Zeiss said it would be useful in studies such as apoptosis, cytotoxicity, molecule localisation and translocation, cell differentiation and proliferation, GFP expression and GPCR signal pathways.
For example, users can analyse the position of the cytoskeleton or determine the proportion of living and dead cells in a sample.
Assaybuilder also allows the characterisation of cell cultures, the identification of new cellular starting points for the development of future medication, and the identification of lead substances in small or medium screenings in pharmaceutical research.
Depending on the biological task being faced, the Assaybuilder platform can be expanded with up to five 'analysts': Physiology Analyst - for processes within or between subcellular compartments; Morphology Analyst - for morphological parameters of a cell, cell cluster or small organism; Cell Cycle Analyst - for automatic determination of cell cycle phases; Membrane Analyst - to determine the co-localisation of signals within the cell; and Motility Analyst - to measure cell movements.
Assaybuilder is compatible with almost all inverted or upright Zeiss imaging systems and stereomicroscopes from Carl Zeiss and other Axiovision software modules.
Automated hardware, such as motorised microscope stages, permits the setup of a screening station, which can also be designed as a living cell screening station by using incubation components.
