Electron microscopy of tobacco mosaic virus under conditions of minimal beam exposure

Abstract

A new technique of electron microscopy has been developed which, when applied to the micrography of tobacco mosaic virus, results in a notably improved delineation of its fine structure. The technique stems from earlier observations that the amount of electron beam irradiation normally used in electron microscopy is destructive to biological specimens. A method is described to minimize such damage, wherein the specimen is subjected only to the irradiation necessary to obtain a photographic exposure. The contrast in the appearance of tobacco mosaic virus as micrographed by the new procedures, and by traditional ones, is demonstrated. © 1970.