Abstract: The invention relates to a new method for generating a luminescent signal, which is based on an enzyme-independent photon emission mechanism (EiPE), whereby luminescent light is generated when a bioluminescent substrate interact with a physical surface in the absence of any catalytic enzyme. In particular embodiments, the method is used to stimulate light emission by fluorescent molecules. The invention relates also to kits for implementing a method according to the present invention and to the use of a bioluminescent substrate, in the presence of a physical surface, to produce a luminescent signal in the absence of enzymatic catalyst.

Abstract: The present invention relates a method to determine the presence of a photon producing biological marker in a cell, tissue or organism of interest. The method is based on Fluorescence by Unbound Excitation from Luminescence (FUEL) and comprises the steps of a) providing conditions suitable for the biological marker to produce at least one first photon by luminescence; b) providing a FUEL probe pair-upper (FPP-U) disposed in proximity to the cell, tissue or organism, wherein the at least one first photon of step a) excites the FPP-U, which emits at least one second photon. The FPP-U may be selected from the group of quantum dots, carbon nanotubes, fluorescent proteins, diamond nanocrystals and metalloporphyrins. This method is characterized in that said biological marker and said FPP-U are not bound and in that each of the at least one second photon(s) are of a longer wavelength than each of the at least one first photon(s).

Abstract: The present invention relates a method to determine the presence of a photon producing biological marker in a cell, tissue or organism of interest. The method is based on Fluorescence by Unbound Excitation from Luminescence (FUEL) and comprises the steps of a) providing conditions suitable for the biological marker to produce at least one first photon by luminescence; b) providing a FUEL probe pair-upper (FPP-U) disposed in proximity to the cell, tissue or organism, wherein the at least one first photon of step a) excites the FPP-U, which emits at least one second photon. The FPP-U may be selected from the group of quantum dots, carbon nanotubes, fluorescent proteins, diamond nanocrystals and metalloporphyrins. This method is charcterized in that said biological marker and said FPP-U are not bound and in that each of the at least one second photon(s) are of a longer wavelength than each of the at least one first photon(s).

Abstract: A method of reconstructing the volume of an object from a sequence of section images, the images corresponding to different positions and/or orientations of an acquisition plane and being subject to uncertainties, the method comprising: a) selecting a finite base of functions on which the volume for reconstruction can be decomposed; b) selecting a first quantification function for quantizing the difference between the real position and/or orientation of each section relative to said object and its nominal position and/or orientation; c) selecting a second quantification function for quantizing the spatial coherence of the reconstructed volume; d) selecting a third quantification function for quantizing the difference between the section images of the object and the corresponding sections of the reconstructed volume; e) selecting an overall cost function, of value that depends on the values of said first, second, and third quantizing functions; and f) jointly estimating the real positions and/or orientation

Abstract: A method for high-resolution image recording of at least one object with a microscope, includes the steps of: (a) positioning the object in a receptacle being arranged in the optical axis of the microscope, (b) generating at least two first data sets per object which represent intermediate images of the object with at least two different orientations relative to the optical axis of the microscope, wherein the different orientations of the object are provided by moving the object relative to the receptacle, and (c) evaluating the data sets for obtaining quantitative three dimensional information.

Abstract: The invention provides a method allowing the detection and the quantitative real-time measurement, at the single living cell level, of viral replication using a bioluminescent reporter gene and a digital light detection device sensitive to detect single photons with high efficiency and assign them a lateral x,y coordinate and precise temporal incidence (i.e. a “time point”), wherein the spatial and temporal characteristics of bioluminescence is indicative at the single living cell level of viral replication.

Abstract: A method for high-resolution image recording of at least one object with a microscope, includes the steps of: (a) positioning the object in a receptacle being arranged in the optical axis of the microscope, (b) generating at least two first data sets per object which represent intermediate images of the object with at least two different orientations relative to the optical axis of the microscope, wherein the different orientations of the object are provided by moving the object relative to the receptacle, and (c) evaluating the data sets for obtaining quantitative three dimensional information.