Absorption edge imaging of bacterial endospores with synchrotron radiation.
This article describes a new method of viewing biological specimens by taking advantage of the absorptive characteristics of monochromatic X-rays above and below the absorption edge of a specific element. Bacterial endospores were imaged before and after treatment with an experimental vanadium-containing sporocide using monochromatic synchrotron radiation at the nitrogen absorption edge, and above and below the vanadium LIII absorption edge. This morphological study demonstrates a rapid, easy-to-use method of soft X-ray absorption edge imaging that can be used by the biologist to obtain morphological and elemental information that is not readily accessible using conventional microscopic and analytic techniques.
Panessa-Warren
B J
BJ
Department of Allied Health Resources, State University of New York, Stony Brook 11794.
Tortora
G T
GT
Warren
J B
JB
D000042:Absorption; D001412:Bacillus subtilis / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D001413:Bacillus thuringiensis / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning / Q000379:methods*; D010315:Particle Accelerators; D013171:Spores, Bacterial / Q000648:ultrastructure; D014965:X-Rays