Optimization Of Scanning Electron Microscopy and Serial Block Face – Scanning Electron Microscopy for Investigating Bacteria and Whipworm Egg Interactions

Abstract

Soil transmitted helminths (STH) are parasitic worms that infect the intestine of the host and are transmitted from person to person via contact with contaminated soil. These infections are among the most common worldwide, affecting nearly 1.5 billion people [1]. One of the major species of STH, Trichuris trichiura, can cause severe symptoms in people with heavy worm burdens including malnutrition, stunted growth, and dysentery [2, 3]. While there is currently a standard therapy available for T. trichiura infections, its efficacy is poor with an average cure rate of less than 50% [4]. Therefore, there is a need for the development of better drug treatments for these infections.

Nematode eggshells: A new anatomical and terminological framework, with a critical review of relevant literature and suggested guidelines for the interpretation and reporting of eggshell imagery

“…6 prior to occurrence of lamellae in the chitin, but there appear to be several other interpretive errors in this paper and it's difficult to see what is being portrayed in the image. Robertson et al (2022) [92] provided some imagery in their fig. 4 of the internal ultrastructure of T. muris using serial block face-scanning electron microscopy (SBF-SEM) with microwave-assisted sample processing and was able to reveal the 3-dimensional architecture of the polarplug region.…”