Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Immunogold Electron Microscopy

Immunogold Electron Microscopy

Immunoelectron microscopy utilizes immunogold labeling of endogenous proteins with specific antibodies to detect and localize these proteins in cells and tissues. The procedure provides insights into the distribution and quantification of protein under different stimulation conditions offering clues about their functions. Conjugating highly electron-dense gold particles with primary or secondary antibodies allow antigen detection on and within cells, with high resolution and specificity.

Cryo-electron Microscopy

Cryo-electron Microscopy

Conventional electron microscopy (EM) involves dehydration, fixation, and staining of biological samples, which distorts the native state of biological molecules and results in several artifacts. Also, the high-energy electron beam damages the sample and makes it difficult to obtain high-resolution images. These issues can be addressed using cryo-EM, which uses frozen samples and gentler electron beams. The technique was developed by Jacques Dubochet, Joachim Frank, and Richard Henderson, for...

Overview of Microscopy Techniques

Overview of Microscopy Techniques

The early pioneers of microscopy opened a window into the invisible world of microorganisms. In 1830, Joseph Jackson Lister created an essentially modern light microscope. The 20th century saw the development of microscopes that leveraged nonvisible light, such as fluorescence microscopy that uses an ultraviolet light source and electron microscopy that uses short-wavelength electron beams. These advances significantly improved magnification, image resolution, and contrast. By comparison, the...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Nicotinamide metabolism is essential for Hepatitis C Virus replication and the production of infectious Lipo-Viro-Particles.

PLoS pathogens·2026

Same author

Entry, replication and innate immunity evasion of BANAL-236, a SARS-CoV-2-related bat virus, in Rhinolophus and human cells.

PLoS pathogens·2026

Same author

The Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever virus hijacks the liver lipid metabolic pathway for virion production.

Emerging microbes & infections·2026

Same author

Protein S Enhances the Phagocytosis of Phosphatidylserine-Exposing Erythrocytes: Implications in Sickle Cell Disease.

American journal of hematology·2025

Same author

Microtubule remodeling by the innate immune factor Trim69 compromises dynein-dependent migration of HIV virion cores toward the nucleus.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2025

Same author

Hypoxia-inducible factor 2 triggers the production of highly infectious native-like hepatitis C virus particles.

Cellular and molecular life sciences : CMLS·2025

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 3, 2026

Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy Tomography in Virology: 3D Imaging of High-pressure Frozen, Freeze-substituted Samples

Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy Tomography in Virology: 3D Imaging of High-pressure Frozen, Freeze-substituted Samples

Published on: August 6, 2025

Viral detection by electron microscopy: past, present and future.

Philippe Roingeard¹

¹INSERM ERI 19 and Electron Microscopy Facility, Université François Rabelais and CHRU de Tours, Tours, France. roingeard@med.univ-tours.fr

Biology of the Cell

|July 17, 2008

Summary

Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) is crucial for identifying unknown viruses and ensuring product safety. While newer methods exist, TEM remains vital for high-resolution imaging in virology research and diagnostics.

More Related Videos

Utilization of Capsules for Negative Staining of Viral Samples within Biocontainment

Utilization of Capsules for Negative Staining of Viral Samples within Biocontainment

Published on: July 19, 2017

Correlative Light Electron Microscopy (CLEM) for Tracking and Imaging Viral Protein Associated Structures in Cryo-immobilized Cells

Correlative Light Electron Microscopy (CLEM) for Tracking and Imaging Viral Protein Associated Structures in Cryo-immobilized Cells

Published on: September 7, 2018

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 3, 2026

Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy Tomography in Virology: 3D Imaging of High-pressure Frozen, Freeze-substituted Samples

Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy Tomography in Virology: 3D Imaging of High-pressure Frozen, Freeze-substituted Samples

Published on: August 6, 2025

Utilization of Capsules for Negative Staining of Viral Samples within Biocontainment

Utilization of Capsules for Negative Staining of Viral Samples within Biocontainment

Published on: July 19, 2017

Correlative Light Electron Microscopy (CLEM) for Tracking and Imaging Viral Protein Associated Structures in Cryo-immobilized Cells

Correlative Light Electron Microscopy (CLEM) for Tracking and Imaging Viral Protein Associated Structures in Cryo-immobilized Cells

Published on: September 7, 2018

Area of Science:

Virology
Microscopy
Cell Biology

Background:

Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) has historically been fundamental to virology, enabling virus discovery and study of virus-host interactions.
Advancements in molecular methods like PCR and live-cell imaging have increasingly supplemented or replaced TEM in some research areas.
Despite new techniques, TEM's unique capabilities remain indispensable for specific applications in virology.

Purpose of the Study:

To highlight the enduring significance of TEM in virology.
To delineate the specific areas where TEM remains essential.
To underscore TEM's role in fundamental research and regulatory compliance.

Main Methods:

Review of TEM's historical and current applications in virology.
Comparison of TEM with alternative imaging and diagnostic techniques (e.g., PCR, fluorescence microscopy).
Case examples illustrating TEM's utility in identifying novel viral agents and studying viral assembly.

Main Results:

TEM is essential for initial identification of unknown viruses during outbreaks.
Regulatory agencies recommend TEM for assessing the viral safety of biological products and production cells.
TEM provides the necessary resolution to distinguish viral particles from protein aggregates in research settings.

Conclusions:

TEM continues to be a critical tool in virology, particularly for outbreak investigations and safety assessments.
Its high resolution is irreplaceable for specific research questions, such as understanding viral assembly.
TEM complements, rather than being entirely replaced by, newer technologies in the field of virology.