Diagnostic electron microscopy is a useful technique for the identification of viruses associated with human, animal, or plant diseases. The size of virus structures requires a high optical resolution (i.e., about 1 nm), which, for a long time, was only provided by transmission electron microscopes operated at 60 kV and above. During the last decade, low-voltage electron microscopy has been improved and potentially provides an alternative to the use of high-voltage electron microscopy for diagnostic electron microscopy of viruses. Therefore, we have compared the imaging capabilities of three low-voltage electron microscopes, a scanning electron microscope equipped with a scanning transmission detector and two low-voltage transmission electron microscopes, operated at 25 kV, with the imaging capabilities of a high-voltage transmission electron microscope using different viruses in samples prepared by negative staining and ultrathin sectioning. All of the microscopes provided sufficient optical resolution for a recognition of the viruses tested. In ultrathin sections, ultrastructural details of virus genesis could be revealed. Speed of imaging was fast enough to allow rapid screening of diagnostic samples at a reasonable throughput. In summary, the results suggest that low-voltage microscopes are a suitable alternative to high-voltage transmission electron microscopes for diagnostic electron microscopy of viruses.

中文翻译：

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低压电子显微镜对病毒的诊断电子显微镜。

诊断电子显微镜是用于识别与人类，动物或植物疾病相关的病毒的有用技术。病毒结构的大小需要很高的光学分辨率（即大约1 nm），长期以来，这种分辨率仅由在60 kV及以上电压下运行的透射电子显微镜提供。在过去的十年中，低压电子显微镜得到了改进，并为高压电子显微镜用于病毒的诊断电子显微镜提供了替代方法。因此，我们比较了在25 kV下操作的三台低压电子显微镜，配备扫描透射检测器的扫描电子显微镜和两台低压透射电子显微镜的成像能力，具有通过负染色和超薄切片制备的样品中使用不同病毒的高压透射电子显微镜的成像功能。所有显微镜都提供了足够的光学分辨率，可以识别测试的病毒。在超薄切片中，可以揭示病毒起源的超微结构细节。成像速度足够快，可以以合理的通量快速筛查诊断样品。总之，结果表明，低压显微镜是用于病毒诊断电子显微镜的高压透射电子显微镜的合适替代品。在超薄切片中，可以揭示病毒起源的超微结构细节。成像速度足够快，可以以合理的通量快速筛查诊断样品。总之，结果表明，低压显微镜是用于病毒诊断电子显微镜的高压透射电子显微镜的合适替代品。在超薄切片中，可以揭示病毒起源的超微结构细节。成像速度足够快，可以以合理的通量快速筛查诊断样品。总之，结果表明，低压显微镜是用于病毒诊断电子显微镜的高压透射电子显微镜的合适替代品。