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Atypical flagella assembly and haploid genome coiling during male gamete formation in Plasmodium
Gametogenesis is critical for sexual reproduction. Using volume electron microscopy, Hair et al report the structural organisation of the haploid nucleus coiled around the axoneme of the Plasmodium berghei male microgamete.
- Molly Hair
- , Flávia Moreira-Leite
- & Sue Vaughan
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3D reconstructions of parasite development and the intracellular niche of the microsporidian pathogen Encephalitozoon intestinalis
Microsporidia are obligate intracellular parasitic fungi that can cause opportunistic infections in humans. Here, Antao et al. investigate the intracellular life cycle of human-infecting Encephalitozoon intestinalis using serial block-face scanning electron microscopy to characterize parasite organelle development and host-cell mitochondrial remodeling.
- Noelle V. Antao
- , Cherry Lam
- & Gira Bhabha
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The architecture and operating mechanism of a cnidarian stinging organelle
The venomous stinging cells of jellyfish, anemones, and corals contain an organelle, the nematocyst, which explosively discharges a venom-laden thread. Here, the authors describe the nematocyst thread and its sub-structures in the sea anemone N. vectensis, revealing a complexity and sophistication underpinning this cellular weapon.
- Ahmet Karabulut
- , Melainia McClain
- & Matthew C. Gibson
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Waffle Method: A general and flexible approach for improving throughput in FIB-milling
Here the authors describe the Waffle Method, aimed at increasing the throughput of and solves several challenges present in cryo-FIB/SEM sample preparation for cryo-ET analysis — the highest-resolution method for obtaining 3D views of native biological specimens in-situ.
- Kotaro Kelley
- , Ashleigh M. Raczkowski
- & Alex J. Noble
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A blueprint of the topology and mechanics of the human ovary for next-generation bioengineering and diagnosis
Although the first dissection of the human ovary dates back to the 17th century, its characterization is still limited. Here, the authors have unraveled a unique biophysical and topological phenotype of reproductive-age tissue, bridging biophysics and female fertility and providing a blueprint for the artificial ovary.
- Emna Ouni
- , Alexis Peaucelle
- & Christiani A. Amorim
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Ultrastructural visualization of 3D chromatin folding using volume electron microscopy and DNA in situ hybridization
The genome is folded in 3-dimensions, though the lack of robust ultra-resolution imaging makes this difficult to visualise. Here, the authors present 3D-EMISH that combines serial block-face scanning electron microscopy with in situ hybridization.
- Paweł Trzaskoma
- , Błażej Ruszczycki
- & Grzegorz M. Wilczyński
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Interpreting nanovoids in atom probe tomography data for accurate local compositional measurements
Atom probe tomography can image chemical composition at the nanoscale, but our understanding of how it images voids, or empty spaces, is still lacking. Here, the authors combine atom probe tomography, scanning transmission electron microscopy, and field-evaporation theory to show how voids are imaged and subsequently measured.
- Xing Wang
- , Constantinos Hatzoglou
- & Jonathan D. Poplawsky
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PKHD1L1 is a coat protein of hair-cell stereocilia and is required for normal hearing
There is little known about the function or molecular identity of the electron-dense stereocilia coat, which is transiently present at the surface of stereocilia. In this study authors screened a database of hair-cell-enriched translated proteins to identify the expression of Polycystic Kidney and Hepatic Disease 1-Like 1 (PKHD1L1), a large, mostly extracellular protein, and show that it forms the coat at the tips of stereocilia and is required for normal hearing in mice
- Xudong Wu
- , Maryna V. Ivanchenko
- & David P. Corey
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An essential contractile ring protein controls cell division in Plasmodium falciparum
Schizogony is essential for blood stage infection of Plasmodium parasites and produces several daughter cells. Here, Rudlaff et al. identify PfCINCH and interacting proteins as essential components of the basal complex required to establish daughter cell boundaries.
- Rachel M. Rudlaff
- , Stephan Kraemer
- & Jeffrey D. Dvorin
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A high-brightness large-diameter graphene coated point cathode field emission electron source
Traditional cold field emission electron sources rely on single crystal tungsten sharpened wires. Here, the authors use graphene-coated nickel point cathodes to devise alternative cold field emission electron sources for electron microscopy and lithography applications.
- Xiuyuan Shao
- , Avinash Srinivasan
- & Anjam Khursheed
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A carbon nanotube tape for serial-section electron microscopy of brain ultrastructure
Electron microscopy requires electrically conductive and grounded samples to provide high-resolution, high-contrast images. Here, Kubota et al. describe a suitable carbon nanotube based tape for automated serial section collection and imaging, as in ATUM-based electron microscopy.
- Yoshiyuki Kubota
- , Jaerin Sohn
- & Yasuo Kawaguchi
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Probing low-energy hyperbolic polaritons in van der Waals crystals with an electron microscope
Here the authors adapt a STEM-EELS system to probe energy loss down to 100 meV, and apply it to map phononic states in hexagonal boron nitride, revealing that the electron loss is dominated by hyperbolic phonon polaritons.
- Alexander A. Govyadinov
- , Andrea Konečná
- & Rainer Hillenbrand
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Magnetic measurements with atomic-plane resolution
It has been predicted that electron beam probes may allow for the imaging of magnetism with atomic-scale resolution. Here, the authors demonstrate a scanning transmission electron microscopy method capable of resolving magnetic contrast from individual atomic planes.
- Ján Rusz
- , Shunsuke Muto
- & Claus M. Schneider
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Simultaneous atomic-resolution electron ptychography and Z-contrast imaging of light and heavy elements in complex nanostructures
The use of ptychography with electrons has been limited. Here, Yang et al. demonstrate that the combination of Z-contrast and phase imaging reveals the structure of complex nanomaterials. This practical tool can be used to solve the structure of a beam-sensitive carbon nanostructure at atomic-resolution.
- H. Yang
- , R. N. Rutte
- & P. D. Nellist
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Arbitrary cross-section SEM-cathodoluminescence imaging of growth sectors and local carrier concentrations within micro-sampled semiconductor nanorods
Semiconductor nanocrystals are potential nanoelectronic materials but often display nonuniform electric properties due to their anisotropic growths. Here, the authors report cross-sectional cathodoluminescence imaging of a single-crystalline ZnO nanowire to resolve its growth sectors with different carrier concentrations.
- Kentaro Watanabe
- , Takahiro Nagata
- & Yoshiaki Nakamura
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Sub-nanometre resolution imaging of polymer–fullerene photovoltaic blends using energy-filtered scanning electron microscopy
Morphological characterization of organic photovoltaic active layers is restricted by the lack of accurate chemical mapping tools. Here, the authors demonstrate an energy-filtered scanning electron microscopy technique, which enables sub-nanometre resolution imaging of an organic photovoltaic blend.
- Robert C. Masters
- , Andrew J. Pearson
- & Cornelia Rodenburg
Direct observation of strong surface reconstruction in partially reduced nickelate films