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

Atomic Force Microscopy

Atomic Force Microscopy

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) is a type of scanning probe microscopy that can analyze topographic details of various specimens like ceramics, glass, polymers, and biological samples. AFM offers over 1000 times more resolution than the optical imaging system. Images generated from AFM are three-dimensional surface profiles, offering an advantage over the flat, two-dimensional images from other imaging techniques.
The AFM Probe
The probe is regarded as the heart of any AFM setup and comprises the...

Studying the Cytoskeleton

Studying the Cytoskeleton

The cytoskeletal architecture can be studied using different microscopic and biochemical techniques. Electron microscopy was instrumental in discovering the cytoskeletal architecture around the 1960s, which allowed obtaining structural information at a high-resolution level. However, the sample preparation procedure often limits this ability in biological samples. Several protocols have been developed over the years to optimize sample preparation. In one of the protocols known as rotary...

Special Staining Techniques

Special Staining Techniques

Specialized staining techniques play a vital role in microbiology by enabling the visualization of specific bacterial structures that remain undetectable with standard microscopy methods. These techniques not only enhance the structural visualization of bacterial cells but also provide critical insights into their pathogenicity and classification. Additionally, they support diagnostic and research endeavors in microbiology by identifying key bacterial features.Capsule Staining for Virulence...

Two-Dimensional Microscopy in Microbiology

Two-Dimensional Microscopy in Microbiology

Two-dimensional (2D) microscopy encompasses a range of optical techniques that capture images within a single focal plane, offering detailed representations of microscopic structures. These techniques are essential in biological and medical research, enabling the visualization of cellular and subcellular structures with different levels of contrast and specificity.There are several major types of 2D microscopy, each with strengths and applications.Bright-Field MicroscopyBright-field microscopy...

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...

Three-Dimensional Microscopy in Microbiology

Three-Dimensional Microscopy in Microbiology

Three-dimensional imaging techniques are essential in cell biology, allowing researchers to visualize intricate cellular structures with high resolution. Two prominent methods, Differential Interference Contrast Microscopy (DIC) and Confocal Scanning Laser Microscopy (CSLM), provide distinct advantages for imaging live and thick specimens, respectively.Differential Interference Contrast MicroscopyDIC microscopy enhances contrast in transparent, unstained samples by converting phase...

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by

Same author

On Phloridzine and Its Uses.

Buffalo medical and surgical journal·2023

Same author

Plasma tumor gene conversions after one cycle abiraterone acetate for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer: a biomarker analysis of a multicenter international trial.

Annals of oncology : official journal of the European Society for Medical Oncology·2021

Same author

Putative protective role of autoantibodies against the insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor in Graves' Disease: results of a pilot study.

Journal of endocrinological investigation·2020

Same author

A Virtual Comparison of the eCLIPs Device and Conventional Flow-Diverters as Treatment for Cerebral Bifurcation Aneurysms.

Cardiovascular engineering and technology·2019

Same author

Serum antibodies against the insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (IGF-1R) in Graves' disease and Graves' orbitopathy.

Journal of endocrinological investigation·2018

Same author

Millimeter-Wave Beam Scattering by Field-Aligned Blobs in Simple Magnetized Toroidal Plasmas.

Physical review letters·2018

Same journal

Erratum to: Immunotherapeutic Approach to Cancer with Cutaneous DNA Vaccination.

Methods in molecular medicine·2015

Same journal

Methods for cancer gene therapy using tumor suppressor genes.

Methods in molecular medicine·2014

Same journal

Suppression of the human carcinoma phenotype by an antioncogene ribozyme.

Methods in molecular medicine·2014

Same journal

Methods for the use of stromal cells for therapeutic gene therapy.

Methods in molecular medicine·2014

Same journal

Methods for adenovirus-mediated gene transfer to synovium in vivo.

Methods in molecular medicine·2014

Same journal

Methods for gene transfer to synovium.

Methods in molecular medicine·2014

See all related articles

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 3, 2026

Contact Mode Atomic Force Microscopy as a Rapid Technique for Morphological Observation and Bacterial Cell Damage Analysis

Contact Mode Atomic Force Microscopy as a Rapid Technique for Morphological Observation and Bacterial Cell Damage Analysis

Published on: June 30, 2023

Atomic force microscopy : theory and practice in bacteria morphostructural analysis.

P C Braga¹, D Ricci

¹Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Milano, Italy.

Methods in Molecular Medicine

|March 5, 2011

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

The invention of the microscope revolutionized science. Later, the scanning electron microscope (SEM) offered higher resolution by using electrons instead of light for surface analysis.

More Related Videos

Atomic Force Microscopy Combined with Infrared Spectroscopy as a Tool to Probe Single Bacterium Chemistry

Atomic Force Microscopy Combined with Infrared Spectroscopy as a Tool to Probe Single Bacterium Chemistry

Published on: September 15, 2020

Bacterial Immobilization for Imaging by Atomic Force Microscopy

Bacterial Immobilization for Imaging by Atomic Force Microscopy

Published on: August 10, 2011

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 3, 2026

Contact Mode Atomic Force Microscopy as a Rapid Technique for Morphological Observation and Bacterial Cell Damage Analysis

Contact Mode Atomic Force Microscopy as a Rapid Technique for Morphological Observation and Bacterial Cell Damage Analysis

Published on: June 30, 2023

Atomic Force Microscopy Combined with Infrared Spectroscopy as a Tool to Probe Single Bacterium Chemistry

Atomic Force Microscopy Combined with Infrared Spectroscopy as a Tool to Probe Single Bacterium Chemistry

Published on: September 15, 2020

Bacterial Immobilization for Imaging by Atomic Force Microscopy

Bacterial Immobilization for Imaging by Atomic Force Microscopy

Published on: August 10, 2011

Area of Science:

Microscopy
Surface Morphology Analysis
Scientific Instrumentation

Background:

The invention of the microscope marked a significant advancement in civilization.
Microscopes are essential tools in natural, biological, and medical sciences.
The scanning electron microscope (SEM) emerged as a breakthrough in the 1940s.

Purpose of the Study:

To highlight the historical significance of microscopes.
To explain the fundamental differences between optical and electron microscopy.
To discuss the resolution limitations in different microscopy techniques.

Main Methods:

Comparison of optical microscopy (light, glass lenses) with scanning electron microscopy (electrons, electromagnetic lenses).
Explanation of "far field microscopes" and their image formation process.
Analysis of resolution limits based on wavelength and lens properties.

Main Results:

Optical microscopy resolution is typically limited to about 1 μm.
Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) offers higher resolution, typically around 50Å.
Both techniques are limited by diffraction patterns and wavelength.

Conclusions:

Microscopes, from early optical versions to SEM, have been pivotal in scientific progress.
SEM represents a major leap in surface morphology analysis due to its higher resolution.
Understanding the principles and limitations of different microscopy types is crucial for scientific advancement.