Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 5, 2026

Conformational Evaluation of HIV-1 Trimeric Envelope Glycoproteins Using a Cell-based ELISA Assay
Published on: September 14, 2014
Inroads through the bacterial cell envelope: seeing is believing
Cezar M Khursigara1,2, Susan F Koval3, Dianne M Moyles2
1a Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada.
This review highlights Terry Beveridge's pioneering work on bacterial cell envelopes and surface layers (S-layers). His research advanced cryo-electron microscopy techniques, revealing bacterial ultrastructure and assembly processes.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Cell Biology
- Biophysics
Background:
- Prokaryotic cells possess a unique cell envelope comprising a cytoplasmic membrane and cell wall.
- Bacterial cell fractionation and electron microscopy advancements in the mid-20th century enabled detailed cell envelope studies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review Terry Beveridge's significant contributions to understanding bacterial cell envelope structure and ultrastructure.
- To highlight the impact of cryo-electron microscopy techniques developed and applied by Beveridge.
Main Methods:
- Review of historical research and publications by Terry Beveridge.
- Exploration of cryogenic methods for preserving bacterial ultrastructure.
- Application of cryo-electron microscopy, including CEMOVIS, for imaging bacterial cell envelopes.
Main Results:
- Beveridge's early work elucidated the structure of paracrystalline surface layers (S-layers).
- Advancements in cryo-electron microscopy provided unprecedented insights into S-layer assembly and bacterial cell envelope ultrastructure.
- CEMOVIS enabled visualization of the Gram-positive cell envelope.
Conclusions:
- Terry Beveridge made seminal contributions to bacterial cell envelope research through innovative microscopy techniques.
- His work significantly advanced the understanding of S-layer structure, assembly, and the overall ultrastructure of prokaryotic cell envelopes.
More Related Videos
10:24Separation of the Cell Envelope for Gram-negative Bacteria into Inner and Outer Membrane Fractions with Technical Adjustments for Acinetobacter baumannii
Published on: April 10, 2020
07:29Determination of Molecular Structures of HIV Envelope Glycoproteins using Cryo-Electron Tomography and Automated Sub-tomogram Averaging
Published on: December 1, 2011
Related Concept Videos
Outer Layers of the Cell Envelope
Bacterial Cell Wall
Bacterial Transformation
Griffith made an unexpected discovery when he killed the pathogenic strain and mixed its remains with the live, non-pathogenic strain. Not only did the mixture kill host mice, but it also contained living pathogenic bacteria that...
Bacterial Signaling
Bacterial RNA Polymerase
In most genes, the transcription site is a single base present upstream of the coding sequence. Though RNAP is a catalytically efficient enzyme, it does not recognize...
Bacterial Transcription
Transcription can be divided into three main stages, each involving distinct DNA sequences to guide the polymerase. These are: