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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...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 11, 2026

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

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Electron microscopy: essentials for viral structure, morphogenesis and rapid diagnosis.

Ying Zhang¹, Tao Hung, Jingdong Song

¹College of Life Sciences and Bioengineering, Electron Microscopy Laboratory, School of Science, Beijing Jiaotong University, Beijing 100044, China.

Science China. Life Sciences

|May 2, 2013

Summary

Electron microscopy (EM) offers rapid and accurate detection of viral agents, crucial for bioterrorism and emergencies. Despite declining labs, EM remains vital for diagnosing unknown viruses and understanding viral interactions.

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Area of Science:

Virology
Microscopy
Pathogenesis

Background:

Electron microscopy (EM) is a rapid and accurate diagnostic tool for detecting viral agents, especially in emergencies and bioterrorism scenarios.
There's a declining number of EM diagnostic laboratories, leading to challenges in accessing and interpreting EM results.
EM offers significant technological advantages for virus identification and characterization.

Purpose of the Study:

To review the historical significance and current applications of EM in virology.
To highlight EM's role in diagnosing unknown or unsuspected viral infections.
To emphasize the importance of integrating EM with other microscopic techniques and clinical data.

Main Methods:

Review of historical contributions of EM to virology.
Analysis of EM's utility in virus differentiation, antigen localization, virus-cell interactions, and morphogenesis.
Emphasis on combining EM with light and confocal microscopy for comprehensive pathogenesis data.

Main Results:

EM has historically been instrumental in advancing virology.
EM is effective for differentiating viruses, localizing antigens, studying virus-cell interactions, and examining viral morphogenesis.
Accurate EM interpretation requires careful consideration of artifacts and integration with clinical and pathogenesis data.

Conclusions:

Electron microscopy should be a frontline diagnostic tool in virology, particularly for unknown agents and emergency situations.
The integration of EM with clinical data and other microscopy techniques is essential for accurate diagnosis.
Addressing the decline in EM laboratories and training is crucial to fully leverage its diagnostic potential.