For scientists, seeing is the beginning of understanding. Researchers can see atomically small details with transmission electron microscopy by capturing their interactions with electrons. The tiny specimen needs to be treated with heavy metals to ensure interactions. The current standard is to douse the virus sample with a solution containing a radioactive substance called uranyl acetate.
The resulting images are clear, but the process to procure and store the required radioactive heavy metal solution can be a complicated barrier for researchers. A non-radioactive treatment can produce the same clear, detailed images without the bureaucratic fuss of uranyl acetate.
They published their findings in May.
TEM is the most widely used technique because it allows direct visualization at the nanometer scale, but it currently requires heavy element-laden negative staining reagents.
The material known as "Keggin-type" is an alternative to the radioactive uranyl acetate. The molecule is composed of a central unit of one oxygen and four oxygens. The molecule is acidic and must be destroyed before being used. The images it produces are not as clear as those made with uranyl acetate. The reagent is part of a large family of similar and possibly better compounds.
We have been investigating compounds that can be used as a negative staining reagent to observe a fine structure ofbacteria.
Preyssler-type molecule also comprise oxygen, but they are arranged around an encapsulated positively charged ion, such as sodium or calcium. They have a different structure from the Keggin-type compounds, resulting in a more stable molecule that is produced as a potassium salt.
The researchers stained and image three types of bacterial viruses. The clarity of images obtained in their study can be checked with the help of the morphological structures of these phages.
The results show that Preyssler-type phosphotungstates are good negative-staining reagents for virus observations.
The researchers plan to develop a series of non-radioactive negative-staining reagents to observe other viruses, as well as small organic particles, according to Sadakane.
More information: Koichi Sahiro et al, Preyssler-type phosphotungstate is a new family of negative-staining reagents for the TEM observation of viruses, Scientific Reports (2022). DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-11405-3 Journal information: Scientific Reports Citation: New non-radioactive, neutral reagent reveals viruses in clear detail (2022, May 26) retrieved 27 May 2022 from https://phys.org/news/2022-05-non-radioactive-neutral-reagent-reveals-viruses.html This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.
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