Services

The IEMC provides services and expertise in all aspects of transmission and scanning electron microscopy including conventional and cryo preparation of cells and tissues, negative staining, metal and protein shadowing, and freeze-fracture. Our services include conventional TEM & SEM imaging of biological and materials science specimens, cryo-electron tomography, cryo-high resolution SEM (cryo-HRSEM) imaging of frozen-hydrated specimens, energy-dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS) for elemental analysis, conventional LM imaging, negative staining, standard sample embedding for electron and light microscopy, standard ultrathin and semithin microtomy, cryo-ultramicrotomy, high-pressure freezing (HPF) and self-pressurized rapid freezing (SPRF), cryo-substitution and embedding, ultrathin metal film coating, EM and LM immunocytochemistry, basic image analysis, and image processing for grants and publications, negative stain single particle EM, cryo-EM specimen preparation, and high-resolution single particle Cryo-EM.

Transmission Electron Microscopy

The IEMC houses five transmission electron microscopes suitable for imaging biological and non-biological specimens prepared using a number of methods both at room temperature and under cryo conditions. Image: RSV particle from the IEMC image library.

Cryo-Transmission Electron Microscopy

Four of our TEMs are equipped with cryo-capabilities using Gatan 626, 714, or ELSA cryo-holders for single-tilt and high-tilt imaging of biological specimens or materials. Our Talos Arctica comes with an autoloader system that allows the loading of 12 cryo-EM samples for fast grid mapping and high-throughput image acquisition of high-resolution, single-particle data. Image acquisition is done on a Gatan K3 direct electron detector (Talos Arctica), or a Direct Electron DE20 detector (JEOL JEM-2200FS). Image: Measles virus particle from the IEMC image library.

Cryo-Transmission Electron Tomography

Our 200 kV, JEOL JEM-2200 FS, with an in-column Omega Filter, a Gatan 714 high-tilt cryo-holder and a Direct Electron detector (DE20) is capable of collecting high quality tomography data. Image: Segmented tomogram of HIV-1 virions attached to plasma membrane (DOI: 10.1128/JVI.01880-15).

Scanning Electron Microscopy with Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy

We have a Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM, JEOL JSM-IT700HR), acquired with funds from the Georgia Research Alliance. This instrument is fitted with secondary and back-scattered electron detection and it is capable of low and high-vacuum SEM. It has a JEOL, fully-embedded. energy-dispersive microanalysis system to carry out Energy-Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS) for elemental analysis. Image: Fly eye from the IEMC image library.

Focused Ion Beam-Scanning Electron Microscopy (Coming soon in 2024)

Funded through an NIH High-End Instrumentation Grant, Emory's School of Medicine, Emory College of Arts and Sciences, and the Department of Chemistry, a state-of-the-art Focused Ion Beam - Scanning Electron Microscope (FIB-SEM, ThermoFisher Helios 5 Hydra CX) will be installed at our Emerson site in 2024 (shipment expected in the second quarter of 2024). This Plasma FIB-SEM is capable of cryo and room temperature applications and has four switchable ion species: Xe, Ar, O, and N. Samples can be prepared by plunge-freezing in liquid ethane, high-pressure freezing, and metal coating. An integrated Fluorescent Light Microscope (iFLM, Delmic Meteor) system will allow Emory researchers to perform Correlated Light and Electron Microscopy (CLEM) without the need for sample exchange between instruments. Image: Cryo-SEM of amyloid-beta oligopeptides self-assembled into nanotubes (DOI: https://doi.org/10.1039/B701029J).