The scanning electron microscope in microbiology and diagnosis of infectious disease

Abstract

Despite being an excellent tool for investigating ultrastructure, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) is less frequently used than transmission electron microscopy for microbes such as viruses or bacteria. Here we describe rapid methods that allow SEM imaging of fully hydrated, unfixed microbes without using conventional sample preparation methods. We demonstrate improved ultrastructural preservation, with greatly reduced dehydration and shrinkage, for specimens including bacteria and viruses such as Ebola virus using infiltration with ionic liquid on conducting filter substrates for SEM.

Transmission Electron Microscopy Improves the Diagnostic Sensitivity in Nonbacterial Etiology of Severe Pneumonia: A Retrospective Study

“…25 Recently, rapid methods of sample preparation and transportable EM equipment, which makes EM an easier and faster tool to use, have also been reported to improve the identification of infectious agents. [26][27][28] These studies and our data collectively support that in future, TEM may be used along with other diagnostic tools, as one part of a comprehensive assay system for microbiological diagnosis of severe pneumonia. Several imitations should be noted in the present study.…”

Increasing the Quality of Agricultural and Plantation Residues using Combination of Fiber Cracking Technology and Urea for Ruminant Feeds

“…The sample stages were inserted into the chamber and the image was taken by SEM of the ZEISS brand with the EVOMA 10. Then the SEM image was taken by a secondary electron detector, working distance 8.0 mm, EHT 16.00 kV with 500, 1000 and 2000 magnification (Golding et al, 2016).…”

Preparation and antitumor evaluation of self-assembling oleanolic acid-loaded Pluronic P105/D-α-tocopheryl polyethylene glycol succinate mixed micelles for non-small-cell lung cancer treatment

“…The dehydration and shrinkage of micelles during sample processing may result in smaller diameters than those obtained by the dynamic light scattering technique. 36 In vitro drug release PBS (pH 7.4) was chosen as a release environment to simulate blood pH conditions. OA-micelles and free OA were incubated in PBS containing 0.1% Tween 80 at 37°C and the OA concentration was determined at several time points.…”