title: Basic phage electron microscopy.
abstract: Negative staining of purified viruses is the most important electron microscopical technique in virology. The principal stains are phosphotungstate and uranyl acetate, both of which have problems and advantages. Particular problems are encountered in photography, calibration of magnification, measurements, and interpretation of artifacts.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Laval University, Quebec, QC, Canada.
authors.forename: Hans-W
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Ackermann
mesh_terms: D001435:Bacteriophages / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D008854:Microscopy, Electron / Q000379:methods*; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D010772:Phosphotungstic Acid
chemical_list: D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D010772:Phosphotungstic Acid; C005460:uranyl acetate