Topic: STED microscopy

Investigate mitochondrial DNA architecture and function at LNBio/CNPEM in Campinas with Thayna Mendonça Avelino. Combine coherent X-ray diffraction imaging with STED microscopy, develop multimodal imaging strategies and integrate structural and functional measurements. The fellowship starts in November 2026. Submit a CV, motivation letter and recommendation letter to the investigator’s address on the official call by 12 October 2026.

Synaptic dysfunction is a key feature of SHANK-associated disorders such as autism spectrum disorder, schizophrenia, and Phelan-McDermid syndrome. Since detailed knowledge of their effect on synaptic nanostructure remains limited, we investigated such alterations in ex11|SH3 SHANK3-KO mice combining expansion (ExM) and STED microscopy. This enabled high-resolution imaging of mosaic-like arrangements formed by synaptic proteins. We found distinct shape-profiles as fingerprints of the murine postsynaptic scaffold across brain regions and genotypes, as well as alterations in the spatial and molec

Stroke remains a leading cause of long-term disability, with effective therapies hampered by an incomplete understanding of brain recovery mechanisms. Emerging evidence indicates that the interactions between the brain extracellular matrix (ECM) and glial cells1 critically contribute to post-stroke neuroplasticity and can help promote stroke recovery.We investigated the role of perineuronal nets (PNNs), facet-like ECM layers surrounding fast-spiking interneurons, in neurological recovery following focal cerebral ischemia in mice. Using superresolution stimulated emission depletion (STED), stru

AimStriatal cholinergic interneurons (CINs) use both acetylcholine (ACh) and glutamate (Glu) to regulate the striatal network. CINs express vesicular transporters for acetylcholine (VAChT) and Glu (VGLUT3). We recently demonstrated, using super resolution STimulated Emission Depletion microscopy (STED) microscopy, that part of cholinergic synaptic vesicles (SVs) contains both VAChT and VGLUT3, whereas others express only VAChT or only VGLUT3. CINs SVs are thus able to release either ACh or Glu or both. However, the link between neurotransmitters accumulation into SVs and their final exocytosis

Dendritic spines are key structures for neural communication, learning and memory. Spine size and shape probably reflect learning and synaptic strength. With superresolution STED microscopy (STimulated Emission Depletion microscopy) we imaged for the first time in 3D the detailed shape of the majority of the spines of individual neurons in turtle cortex (Trachemys scripta elegans) (Figure, scale bars: upper row 0.5 µm, lower row 1 µm). A combination of skeletonization in 3D and segmentation of almost 7000 spines allowed us to describe their morphology in detail. To classify the spines, we clus