1
|
Schubert PJ, Saxena R, Kornfeld J. DeepFocus: fast focus and astigmatism correction for electron microscopy. Nat Commun 2024; 15:948. [PMID: 38296974 PMCID: PMC10830472 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-45042-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 02/02/2024] Open
Abstract
High-throughput 2D and 3D scanning electron microscopy, which relies on automation and dependable control algorithms, requires high image quality with minimal human intervention. Classical focus and astigmatism correction algorithms attempt to explicitly model image formation and subsequently aberration correction. Such models often require parameter adjustments by experts when deployed to new microscopes, challenging samples, or imaging conditions to prevent unstable convergence, making them hard to use in practice or unreliable. Here, we introduce DeepFocus, a purely data-driven method for aberration correction in scanning electron microscopy. DeepFocus works under very low signal-to-noise ratio conditions, reduces processing times by more than an order of magnitude compared to the state-of-the-art method, rapidly converges within a large aberration range, and is easily recalibrated to different microscopes or challenging samples.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- P J Schubert
- Max Planck Institute for Biological Intelligence, Martinsried, 82152, Germany
| | - R Saxena
- Max Planck Institute for Biological Intelligence, Martinsried, 82152, Germany
| | - J Kornfeld
- Max Planck Institute for Biological Intelligence, Martinsried, 82152, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Isakozawa S, Baba M, Amano J, Sakamoto S, Baba N. Generalized spot auto-focusing method with a high-definition auto-correlation function in transmission electron microscopy. Microscopy (Oxf) 2019; 68:395-412. [PMID: 31504689 DOI: 10.1093/jmicro/dfz028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2019] [Revised: 05/19/2019] [Accepted: 05/20/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The spot auto-focusing (AF) method with a unique high-definition auto-correlation function (HD-ACF) proposed in the previous paper is improved and is now applicable to general specimens at a wide range of magnifications. According to the definition where the AF is defocused to obtain the highest resolution, the proposed method achieves the sharpest HD-ACF profile in the AF spot image. The relationship where the sharpest HD-ACF profile gives the highest resolution is theoretically explained, and practical AF examples for different specimens and magnifications are experimentally demonstrated. Specimens include a yeast cell thin section at 10-k magnification, a standard grating replica used as a ruler at 50-k, a crystal lattice of graphitized carbon at 400-k and a 60°-tilted thin section (yeast cell) at 10-k. Different procedures are prepared to actively identify the defocus position that gives the sharpest HD-ACF profile. Every AF result demonstrates the highest-resolution image.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shigeto Isakozawa
- Research Institute for Science and Technology, Kogakuin University, 2665-1 Nakano, Hachioji, Tokyo 192-0015, Japan
| | - Misuzu Baba
- Research Institute for Science and Technology, Kogakuin University, 2665-1 Nakano, Hachioji, Tokyo 192-0015, Japan
| | - Junpei Amano
- Major of Informatics, Graduate School, Kogakuin University, 2665-1 Nakano, Hachioji, Tokyo 192-0015, Japan
| | - Shohei Sakamoto
- Major of Informatics, Graduate School, Kogakuin University, 2665-1 Nakano, Hachioji, Tokyo 192-0015, Japan
| | - Norio Baba
- Major of Informatics, Graduate School, Kogakuin University, 2665-1 Nakano, Hachioji, Tokyo 192-0015, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Hof PR. Shawn Mikula. J Comp Neurol 2019. [DOI: 10.1002/cne.24724] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
|
4
|
Eberle AL, Zeidler D. Multi-Beam Scanning Electron Microscopy for High-Throughput Imaging in Connectomics Research. Front Neuroanat 2018; 12:112. [PMID: 30618653 PMCID: PMC6297274 DOI: 10.3389/fnana.2018.00112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2018] [Accepted: 11/23/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Major progress has been achieved in recent years in three-dimensional microscopy techniques. This applies to the life sciences in general, but specifically the neuroscientific field has been a main driver for developments regarding volume imaging. In particular, scanning electron microscopy offers new insights into the organization of cells and tissues by volume imaging methods, such as serial section array tomography, serial block-face imaging or focused ion beam tomography. However, most of these techniques are restricted to relatively small tissue volumes due to the limited acquisition throughput of most standard imaging techniques. Recently, a novel multi-beam scanning electron microscope technology optimized to the imaging of large sample areas has been developed. Complemented by the commercialization of automated sample preparation robots, the mapping of larger, cubic millimeter range tissue volumes at high-resolution is now within reach. This Mini Review will provide a brief overview of the various approaches to electron microscopic volume imaging, with an emphasis on serial section array tomography and multi-beam scanning electron microscopic imaging.
Collapse
|
5
|
Titze B, Genoud C, Friedrich RW. SBEMimage: Versatile Acquisition Control Software for Serial Block-Face Electron Microscopy. Front Neural Circuits 2018; 12:54. [PMID: 30108489 PMCID: PMC6079252 DOI: 10.3389/fncir.2018.00054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2018] [Accepted: 06/25/2018] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
We present SBEMimage, an open-source Python-based application to operate serial block-face electron microscopy (SBEM) systems. SBEMimage is designed for complex, challenging acquisition tasks, such as large-scale volume imaging of neuronal tissue or other biological ultrastructure. Advanced monitoring, process control, and error handling capabilities improve reliability, speed, and quality of acquisitions. Debris detection, autofocus, real-time image inspection, and various other quality control features minimize the risk of data loss during long-term acquisitions. Adaptive tile selection allows for efficient imaging of large tissue volumes of arbitrary shape. The software’s graphical user interface is optimized for remote operation. In its user-friendly viewport, tile grids covering the region of interest to be acquired are overlaid on previously acquired overview images of the sample surface. Images from other sources, e.g., light microscopes, can be imported and superimposed. SBEMimage complements existing DigitalMicrograph (Gatan Microscopy Suite) installations on 3View systems but permits higher acquisition rates by interacting directly with the microscope’s control software. Its modular architecture and the use of Python/PyQt make SBEMimage highly customizable and extensible, which allows for fast prototyping and will permit adaptation to a wide range of SBEM systems and applications.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Titze
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Christel Genoud
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Rainer W Friedrich
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Basel, Switzerland.,Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Isakozawa S, Fuse T, Amano J, Baba N. Spot auto-focusing and spot auto-stigmation methods with high-definition auto-correlation function in high-resolution TEM. Microscopy (Oxf) 2018; 67:75-88. [PMID: 29377999 DOI: 10.1093/jmicro/dfy001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2017] [Accepted: 01/07/2018] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
As alternatives to the diffractogram-based method in high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, a spot auto-focusing (AF) method and a spot auto-stigmation (AS) method are presented with a unique high-definition auto-correlation function (HD-ACF). The HD-ACF clearly resolves the ACF central peak region in small amorphous-thin-film images, reflecting the phase contrast transfer function. At a 300-k magnification for a 120-kV transmission electron microscope, the smallest areas used are 64 × 64 pixels (~3 nm2) for the AF and 256 × 256 pixels for the AS. A useful advantage of these methods is that the AF function has an allowable accuracy even for a low s/n (~1.0) image. A reference database on the defocus dependency of the HD-ACF by the pre-acquisition of through-focus amorphous-thin-film images must be prepared to use these methods. This can be very beneficial because the specimens are not limited to approximations of weak phase objects but can be extended to objects outside such approximations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shigeto Isakozawa
- Research Institute for Science and Technology, Kogakuin University, 2665-1 Nakano, Hachioji, Tokyo 192-0015, Japan
| | - Taishi Fuse
- Major of Informatics, Graduate School, Kogakuin University, 2665-1 Nakano, Hachioji, Tokyo 192-0015, Japan
| | - Junpei Amano
- Major of Informatics, Graduate School, Kogakuin University, 2665-1 Nakano, Hachioji, Tokyo 192-0015, Japan
| | - Norio Baba
- Major of Informatics, Graduate School, Kogakuin University, 2665-1 Nakano, Hachioji, Tokyo 192-0015, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Xu CS, Hayworth KJ, Lu Z, Grob P, Hassan AM, García-Cerdán JG, Niyogi KK, Nogales E, Weinberg RJ, Hess HF. Enhanced FIB-SEM systems for large-volume 3D imaging. eLife 2017; 6. [PMID: 28500755 PMCID: PMC5476429 DOI: 10.7554/elife.25916] [Citation(s) in RCA: 204] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2017] [Accepted: 05/09/2017] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Focused Ion Beam Scanning Electron Microscopy (FIB-SEM) can automatically generate 3D images with superior z-axis resolution, yielding data that needs minimal image registration and related post-processing. Obstacles blocking wider adoption of FIB-SEM include slow imaging speed and lack of long-term system stability, which caps the maximum possible acquisition volume. Here, we present techniques that accelerate image acquisition while greatly improving FIB-SEM reliability, allowing the system to operate for months and generating continuously imaged volumes > 106 µm3. These volumes are large enough for connectomics, where the excellent z resolution can help in tracing of small neuronal processes and accelerate the tedious and time-consuming human proofreading effort. Even higher resolution can be achieved on smaller volumes. We present example data sets from mammalian neural tissue, Drosophila brain, and Chlamydomonas reinhardtii to illustrate the power of this novel high-resolution technique to address questions in both connectomics and cell biology. DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.25916.001 Precise three-dimensional imaging can help make sense of microscopic details in biology. These images are usually built up from many two-dimensional images stacked on top of each other. One approach for examining particularly fine details, such as the connections between nerve cells in the brain, is called focused ion beam scanning electron microscopy (or FIB-SEM for short). This approach works by creating an image of the surface layer of a sample, which is then stripped away using a beam of charged particles to reveal the layer beneath. The new surface can then be imaged and so on, through the whole sample. Unfortunately, FIB-SEM devices are currently slow and can only run for a short time, leading to a lack of continuity in the stack of images. FIB-SEM would allow faster, more accurate and detailed studies of connections between brain cells, and other elaborate biological systems, if the technology could be made faster and more reliable over months of continuous operation. The current technical challenge is to create a system that can, for example, successfully image and analyse all the connections between the more than 100 thousand cells that make up the brain of a fruit fly – a common model organism in neurobiology. Xu et al. aimed to create a technique to image a complete fly brain, with gaps of just 8 nanometres between each image in a stack, within a reasonable timeframe. By improving how FIB-SEM signals are detected, making use of advances in ion beam controls, and by engineering ways to recover from system malfunctions, Xu et al. developed an enhanced FIB-SEM device. To demonstrate its value, the new technology was used to create images of a third of a fruit fly’s brain, parts of a mouse’s brain, and cells of a single-celled alga called Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. The results show that large and complex samples can be successfully imaged in their entirety to adequate detail, enabling high-quality reconstruction of the connections between nerve cells. The level of detail, which can be further increased for smaller samples, offers advantages in precision and image quality over other comparable techniques. As well as helping to study the brain, this approach could also be used to examine details inside cells. Future work to advance this technology will enable larger and more complete imaging of elaborate biological structures. DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.25916.002
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- C Shan Xu
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, United States
| | - Kenneth J Hayworth
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, United States
| | - Zhiyuan Lu
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, United States.,Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada
| | - Patricia Grob
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Molecular and Cell Biology Department, University of California, Berkeley, United States
| | - Ahmed M Hassan
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Molecular and Cell Biology Department, University of California, Berkeley, United States
| | - José G García-Cerdán
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Plant and Microbial Biology Department, University of California, Berkeley, United States
| | - Krishna K Niyogi
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Plant and Microbial Biology Department, University of California, Berkeley, United States.,Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, United States
| | - Eva Nogales
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Molecular and Cell Biology Department, University of California, Berkeley, United States.,Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, United States
| | - Richard J Weinberg
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, University of North Carolina, North Carolina, United States
| | - Harald F Hess
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, United States
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Titze B, Genoud C. Volume scanning electron microscopy for imaging biological ultrastructure. Biol Cell 2016; 108:307-323. [DOI: 10.1111/boc.201600024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 132] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2016] [Revised: 07/13/2016] [Accepted: 07/14/2016] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Titze
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research; Basel Switzerland
| | - Christel Genoud
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research; Basel Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Wanner AA, Kirschmann MA, Genoud C. Challenges of microtome-based serial block-face scanning electron microscopy in neuroscience. J Microsc 2015; 259:137-142. [PMID: 25907464 PMCID: PMC4745002 DOI: 10.1111/jmi.12244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2014] [Accepted: 02/11/2015] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Serial block-face scanning electron microscopy (SBEM) is becoming increasingly popular for a wide range of applications in many disciplines from biology to material sciences. This review focuses on applications for circuit reconstruction in neuroscience, which is one of the major driving forces advancing SBEM. Neuronal circuit reconstruction poses exceptional challenges to volume EM in terms of resolution, field of view, acquisition time and sample preparation. Mapping the connections between neurons in the brain is crucial for understanding information flow and information processing in the brain. However, information on the connectivity between hundreds or even thousands of neurons densely packed in neuronal microcircuits is still largely missing. Volume EM techniques such as serial section TEM, automated tape-collecting ultramicrotome, focused ion-beam scanning electron microscopy and SBEM (microtome serial block-face scanning electron microscopy) are the techniques that provide sufficient resolution to resolve ultrastructural details such as synapses and provides sufficient field of view for dense reconstruction of neuronal circuits. While volume EM techniques are advancing, they are generating large data sets on the terabyte scale that require new image processing workflows and analysis tools. In this review, we present the recent advances in SBEM for circuit reconstruction in neuroscience and an overview of existing image processing and analysis pipelines.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- A A Wanner
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Maulbeerstrasse 66, 4058, Basel, Switzerland
| | - M A Kirschmann
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Maulbeerstrasse 66, 4058, Basel, Switzerland
| | - C Genoud
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Maulbeerstrasse 66, 4058, Basel, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Mikula S, Denk W. High-resolution whole-brain staining for electron microscopic circuit reconstruction. Nat Methods 2015; 12:541-6. [PMID: 25867849 DOI: 10.1038/nmeth.3361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 110] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2014] [Accepted: 03/11/2015] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Currently only electron microscopy provides the resolution necessary to reconstruct neuronal circuits completely and with single-synapse resolution. Because almost all behaviors rely on neural computations widely distributed throughout the brain, a reconstruction of brain-wide circuits-and, ultimately, the entire brain-is highly desirable. However, these reconstructions require the undivided brain to be prepared for electron microscopic observation. Here we describe a preparation, BROPA (brain-wide reduced-osmium staining with pyrogallol-mediated amplification), that results in the preservation and staining of ultrastructural details throughout the brain at a resolution necessary for tracing neuronal processes and identifying synaptic contacts between them. Using serial block-face electron microscopy (SBEM), we tested human annotator ability to follow neural 'wires' reliably and over long distances as well as the ability to detect synaptic contacts. Our results suggest that the BROPA method can produce a preparation suitable for the reconstruction of neural circuits spanning an entire mouse brain.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shawn Mikula
- Department of Biomedical Optics, Max Planck Institute for Medical Research, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Winfried Denk
- Department of Biomedical Optics, Max Planck Institute for Medical Research, Heidelberg, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Peddie CJ, Collinson LM. Exploring the third dimension: Volume electron microscopy comes of age. Micron 2014; 61:9-19. [DOI: 10.1016/j.micron.2014.01.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 245] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2013] [Revised: 01/30/2014] [Accepted: 01/30/2014] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
|
12
|
Connectomic reconstruction of the inner plexiform layer in the mouse retina. Nature 2013; 500:168-74. [PMID: 23925239 DOI: 10.1038/nature12346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 581] [Impact Index Per Article: 52.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2013] [Accepted: 06/03/2013] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Comprehensive high-resolution structural maps are central to functional exploration and understanding in biology. For the nervous system, in which high resolution and large spatial extent are both needed, such maps are scarce as they challenge data acquisition and analysis capabilities. Here we present for the mouse inner plexiform layer--the main computational neuropil region in the mammalian retina--the dense reconstruction of 950 neurons and their mutual contacts. This was achieved by applying a combination of crowd-sourced manual annotation and machine-learning-based volume segmentation to serial block-face electron microscopy data. We characterize a new type of retinal bipolar interneuron and show that we can subdivide a known type based on connectivity. Circuit motifs that emerge from our data indicate a functional mechanism for a known cellular response in a ganglion cell that detects localized motion, and predict that another ganglion cell is motion sensitive.
Collapse
|