Correlative microscopy for structural microbiology

Abstract

Understanding how microbes utilize their environment is aided by visualizing them in their natural context at high resolution. Correlative imaging enables efficient targeting and identification of labelled viral and bacterial components by light microscopy combined with high resolution imaging by electron microscopy. Advances in genetic and bioorthogonal labelling, improved workflows for targeting and image correlation, and large-scale data collection are increasing the applicability of correlative imaging methods. Furthermore, developments in mass spectroscopy and soft X-ray imaging are expanding the correlative imaging modalities available. Investigating the structure and organization of microbes within their host by combined imaging methods provides important insights into mechanisms of infection and disease which cannot be obtained by other techniques.