Exploring the bacterial nano-universe
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Updated: Dec 10, 2025

Assembly and Tracking of Microbial Community Development within a Microwell Array Platform
Published on: June 6, 2017
Niklas Söderholm1, Birendra Singh2, Bernt Eric Uhlin1
1Department of Molecular Biology and The Laboratory for Molecular Infection Medicine Sweden (MIMS), Umeå Centre for Microbial Research (UCMR), Umeå University, 90187 Umeå, Sweden.
Abstract:
Since the days of the first acknowledged microscopist, Antonie van Leeuwenhoek, the 'animalcules', that is, bacteria and other microbes have been subject to increasingly detailed visualization. With the currently most sophisticated molecular imaging method; cryo electron tomography (Cryo-ET), we are reaching the milestone of being able to image an entire organism in a single dataset at nanometer resolution. Cryo-ET will enable the next revolution in our understanding of bacterial cells, their ultra-structure and intricate molecular nanomachines. Here, we highlight recent research discoveries based on constantly progressing technology developments. We discuss advantages and challenges of using Cryo-ET to visualize spatial structure of microorganisms and macromolecular complexes in their native environment.
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