Single cells diatom Chaetoceros muelleri investigated by homebuilt confocal fluorescence spectro-microscopy

Currently a combination of fluorescence microscopy with spectroscopic analysis in a balance way has played an important role in providing new and exciting information for the in vivo study of cell, such as diatoms, photosynthetic marine microorganisms. Diatoms contain photosynthetic pigments, carotenoid and chlorophylls molecules, in their machinery to harvest the sunlight energy for growth. Lacking of these pigments might influence to the overall metabolisms of the cells. Here we reported our work to construct a simple homebuilt confocal fluorescence spectromicroscopy to study the cells of Chaetoceros muelleri diatom. The setup was design to get simultaneous data of the image of the single fluorescence cell and the emission spectrum of it.