LAS Matrix - high content screening

[Endy Spriet]

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We are looking into upgrading our Leica SP5 with a motorized stage in order to use the Matrix software to do high content screening.
Does anyone use a different software on their confocal system which can do the same?
Does anyone have an opinions on the Matrix software?

Thanks!
Endy Spriet

--------------------------------------
Molecular Imaging Center
Department of Biomedicine
University of Bergen
Jonas Lies vei 91
N-5009 Bergen, Norway

Tel: [phone]
www.uib.no/rg/mic
--------------------------------------

[George McNamara]

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We bought a MATRIX license for our Leica SP5 inverted with motorized
stage (and high speed galvo Z, so only modest size, lightweight
specimens - no SBS plates) - the software did enable us to do tile-Z
scans, so a success in that respect. The "wizard" to walk through the
steps (whether slide scan or multiwell plate) is both poorly thought out
and badly done.

Leica (your sales rep) can loan you a demo USB stick (and update it for
longer if necessary) - and train you or send an applications specialist
to train you for as long as you need to make an informed decision.

George

On 2/18/2013 9:46 AM, Endy Spriet wrote:

> *****
> To join, leave or search the confocal microscopy listserv, go to:
> http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A0=confocalmicroscopy
> *****
>
> We are looking into upgrading our Leica SP5 with a motorized stage in order to use the Matrix software to do high content screening.
> Does anyone use a different software on their confocal system which can do the same?
> Does anyone have an opinions on the Matrix software?
>
> Thanks!
> Endy Spriet
>
> --------------------------------------
> Molecular Imaging Center
> Department of Biomedicine
> University of Bergen
> Jonas Lies vei 91
> N-5009 Bergen, Norway
>
> Tel: [phone]
> www.uib.no/rg/mic
> --------------------------------------
>
>    

[mfaretta]

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We started to work with Matrix almost 5 years ago on our SP5. The system
is equipped with resonance scanning mirrors (8000 Hz) and Z galvo
allowing us to reduce acquisition time (I have to say that working at
high frequency dramatically reduce photobleaching effects and I use
almost exclusively it for routine signals). We obtained very good
performances for at least a medium throughput data collection (we have a
couple of papers in press in Cytometry now showing some high resolution
cytometry tools we developed). We also employed it for mosaic
acquisition with good results (Turco et al, Stem Cell 2012). The tiling
algorithm is the same one used in the LAS now, if I remember correctly,
but in my hopinion the way Matrix store data file allows better a
posteriori management. Matrix also provides useful features for live
cell imaging such as dynamic cell tracking. And, finally, very important
to us, the possibility to build an interplay between acquisition and
analysis using the CAM option.
I have to say that I agree with George  on the need of improving the
quality of the user interface (even in the built-in help is sometimes
confusing) for the routine use. The system, as the widefield screening
system Olympus ScanR , was born from a collaboration with Urban Liebel,
Rainer Pepperkok and Jan Ellenberg group at EMBL. I suggest you also to
have a look at their work on Micropilot software in Nature Methods to
evaluate alternative solutions. I have to add that the other weak point
is the analysis part that is absent in the package (I know that Leica
work with Definiens for a solution, but I have no direct experience) and
no tools are present to easily browse through the acquired data. If you
are looking for a turn-key system to load your plates and to analyse
data probably the solution from GE or Molecular Devices can make your
life easier. But if you plan to build your own analysis and to use the
system for non-routine screening (for example you can also plan to use
Matrix to collect statistics in FRAP experiments) I suggest you to give
Matrix a chance.
No commercial interest in it, just a satisfied user (I met the
developers some time ago and they are really good guys (being in Europe
maybe one thing to consider)).
If you need further info contact me off list, we will be happy to share
our work (we also developed some ImageJ macros that can help).
Mario

On 2/18/2013 3:46 PM, Endy Spriet wrote:

> *****
> To join, leave or search the confocal microscopy listserv, go to:
> http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A0=confocalmicroscopy
> *****
>
> We are looking into upgrading our Leica SP5 with a motorized stage in order to use the Matrix software to do high content screening.
> Does anyone use a different software on their confocal system which can do the same?
> Does anyone have an opinions on the Matrix software?
>
> Thanks!
> Endy Spriet
>
> --------------------------------------
> Molecular Imaging Center
> Department of Biomedicine
> University of Bergen
> Jonas Lies vei 91
> N-5009 Bergen, Norway
>
> Tel: [phone]
> www.uib.no/rg/mic
> --------------------------------------

--
Mario Faretta
Deapartment of Experimental Oncology
European Institute of Oncology
via Adamello 16
20139 Milan
Italy
Phone: [phone]
email: [hidden email]