Laboratory for Electron Microscopy
Institute of Infectology
The laboratory for electron microscopy is one of the oldest laboratories of the Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut and has conducted research on the ultrastructure and replication of animal pathogenic viruses for more than 60 years. The overall aim of these investigations has always been to visualise basic intracellular stages of virus replication and to support the diagnosis of infectious viral agents.
The general tasks of the laboratory comprise:
- Morphological virus diagnosis in materials of different origin sent in for investigation.
- Studies on the replication cycle of animal pathogenic viruses in host cells/tissues as part of pathogenetic research.
Main Research Topics and Projects
Current research activities of the laboratory include:
- Comparative investigations of morphogenetic processes of various herpesviruses including special virus mutants.
- Comparative investigations of the replication stages of fish pathogenic viruses.
- Examination of ultrastructure and morphogenetic stages of novel viruses.
Preparatory activities for these investigations include:
- Negative staining of viruses or subunits in suspensions,
- Embedding of cells/tissues and preparation of ultrathin sections,
- Immunolabeling of viruses, virus subunits and ultrathin sections,
- Preparation of cells/tissue for scanning electron microscopy,
- Photographic documentation/processing/analysis of results.