Electron microscopy and the investigation of new infectious diseases.
OBJECTIVE
To review and assess the role of electron microscopy in the investigation of new infectious diseases.


METHODS
To design a screening strategy to maximize the likelihood of detecting new or emerging pathogens in clinical samples.


RESULTS
Electron microscopy remains a useful method of investigating some viral infections (infantile gastroenteritis, virus-induced outbreaks of gastroenteritis and skin lesions) using the negative staining technique. In addition, it remains an essential technique for the investigation of new and emerging parasitic protozoan infections in the immunocompromised patients from resin-embedded tissue biopsies. Electron microscopy can also have a useful role in the investigation of certain bacterial infections.


CONCLUSIONS
Electron microscopy still has much to contribute to the investigation of new and emerging pathogens, and should be perceived as capable of producing different, but equally relevant, information compared to other investigative techniques. It is the application of a combined investigative approach using several different techniques that will further our understanding of new infectious diseases.
Curry
Alan
A
Electron Microscopy Unit, Manchester Royal Infirmary, Central Manchester Healthcare Trust, Manchester, UK. dracurry@btinternet.com
D000818:Animals; D021821:Communicable Diseases, Emerging / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000821:virology*; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D008854:Microscopy, Electron / Q000379:methods*; D016814:Microsporidia / Q000648:ultrastructure; D029322:Norovirus / Q000648:ultrastructure; D018155:Orthopoxvirus / Q000648:ultrastructure; D029341:Sapovirus / Q000648:ultrastructure; D016610:Tissue Embedding