Liquid Phase Electron Microscopy of Bacterial Ultrastructure

Abstract

Recent advances in liquid phase scanning transmission electron microscopy (LP-STEM) have enabled the study of dynamic biological processes at nanometer resolutions, paving the way for live-cell imaging using electron microscopy. However, this technique is often hampered by the inherent thickness of whole cell samples and damage from electron beam irradiation. These restrictions degrade image quality and resolution, impeding biological interpretation. Using graphene encapsulation, scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM), and energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy to mitigate these issues provides unprecedented levels of intracellular detail in aqueous specimens. This study demonstrates the potential of LP-STEM to examine and identify internal cellular structures in thick biological samples. Specifically, it highlights the use of LP-STEM to investigate the radiation resistant, gram-positive bacterium, Deinococcus radiodurans using various imaging techniques.