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Consultant Laboratory for Diagnostic Electron Microscopy of Infectious Pathogens (Diagnostic EM of Pathogens)

Head:
Michael Laue

Parapoxviruses from a lesion of the human skin. Negative staining  electron microscopy. Bar = 200 nm. Source: © Hans R. Gelderblom/RKI Parapoxviruses

Diagnostic electron microscopy provides a rapid survey about pathogens present in a sample. All micro and nanoparticles, including the smallest known virus particles, can be detected based on morphological criteria, which allows to reveal and to describe even emerging pathogens. At best, the investigation by electron microscopy provides a quick tentative diagnosis which guides and speeds up a further, more specific diagnosis, or supports a symptomatic diagnosis. Additionally, diagnostic electron microscopy may exclude the presence of a suspected pathogen and serve as an independent control for the diagnosis by other methods.

Tasks

  • Diagnostic electron microscopy of pathogens in clinical samples, cell cultures and environmental samples.
  • Consulting of scientists, medical doctors and technical staff regarding diagnostic electron microscopy (e.g. choice of methods, second opinion in diagnostics).
  • Advanced training in diagnostic electron microscopy (e.g. via lab courses) and support of quality assurance.
  • Promotion of network activities in diagnostic electron microscopy, e.g. by conducting international workshops.
  • Organisation of an external quality testing scheme for diagnostic electron microscopy of viruses.

If you need to send us samples for diagnosis, please contact us first before shipment to guarantee a proper sample collection and preservation for the shipment.

Projects

The Consultant Laboratory for Diagnostic EM is part of the „Advanced Light- and Electron Microscopy“ unit (ZBS 4) of the Robert Koch Institute. Apart from diagnostic electron microscopy, the unit performs ultrastructural and microbiological research on bacterial endospores and biofilm, and acts as a core facility for light and electron microscopy.

Date: 04.09.2023

Publications

  • Laue M, Hoffmann T, Michel J, Nitsche A (2023): Visualization of SARS-CoV-2 particles in naso/oropharyngeal swabs by thin section electron microscopy.
    Virol. J. 20 (21): 9. Epub 2023 Feb 6. doi: 10.1186/s12985-023-01981-9. more

  • Cortese K, Holland G, Möller L, Gagliani MC, Barisione E, Ball L, Pelosi P, Grillo F, Mastracci L, Fiocca R, Laue M (2022): Ultrastructural examination of lung “cryobiopsies” from a series of fatal COVID-19 cases hardly revealed infected cells.
    Virchows Arch 480 (5): 967-977. doi: 10.1007/s00428-022-03308-5. more

  • Carsten Dittmayer, Michael Laue (2022): Identification of coronavirus particles by electron microscopy requires demonstration of specific ultrastructural features.
    Eur Respir J: 2200266. doi: 10.1183/13993003.00266-2022. more

  • Müller SA, Landsmann L, Diallo AOK, Wood R, Rocha C, Tounkara O, Arvand M, Diallo M, Borchert M (2022): Is the World Health Organization Multimodal Hand Hygiene Improvement Strategy applicable and effective at the primary care level in resource-limited settings? A quantitative assessment in healthcare centers of Faranah, Guinea.
    IJID Reg. (3): 27-33. doi: 10.1016/j.ijregi.2022.03.002. more

  • Müller M, Ingold-Heppner B, Stocker H, Heppner FL, Dittmayer C, Laue M (2022): Electron microscopy images of monkeypox virus infection in 24-year-old man.
    Lancet. 400 (10363): 1618. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(22)01969-9. more

  • Laue M, Kauter A, Hoffmann T, Möller L, Michel J, Nitsche A (2021): Morphometry of SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 particles in ultrathin plastic sections of infected Vero cell cultures.
    Sci. Rep. 11 (1): 3515. Epub Feb 10. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-82852-7. more

  • Dittmayer C, Meinhardt J, Radbruch H, Radke J, Heppner BI, Heppner FL, Stenzel W, Holland G, Laue M (2020): Why misinterpretation of electron micrographs in SARS-CoV-2-infected tissue goes viral.
    Lancet 396 (10260): e64-e65. Epub Oct 5. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(20)32079-1. more

  • Möller L, Holland G, Laue M (2020): Diagnostic electron microscopy of viruses with low-voltage electron microscopes.
    J. Histochem. Cytochem. 68 (6): 389-402. Epub May 21. doi: 10.1369/0022155420929438. more

  • Möller L, Schünadel L, Nitsche A, Schwebke I, Hanisch M, Laue M (2015): Evaluation of virus inactivation by formaldehyde to enhance biosafety of diagnostic electron microscopy.
    Viruses 7 (2): 666–679. Epub Feb 10. doi: 10.3390/v7020666. more

  • Laue M (2010): Electron microscopy of viruses.
    Methods Cell Biol. 96: 1-20. doi: 10.1016/S0091-679X(10)96001-9. more

  • Laue M, Bannert N (2010): Detection limit of negative staining electron microscopy for the diagnosis of bioterrorism-related micro-organisms.
    J. Appl. Microbiol. 109 (4): 1159-1168. Epub Apr 1. more