title: Microscopy techniques in flavivirus research.
abstract: The Flavivirus genus is composed of many medically important viruses that cause high morbidity and mortality, which include Dengue and West Nile viruses. Various molecular and biochemical techniques have been developed in the endeavour to study flaviviruses. However, microscopy techniques still have irreplaceable roles in the identification of novel virus pathogens and characterization of morphological changes in virus-infected cells. Fluorescence microscopy contributes greatly in understanding the fundamental viral protein localizations and virus-host protein interactions during infection. Electron microscopy remains the gold standard for visualizing ultra-structural features of virus particles and infected cells. New imaging techniques and combinatory applications are continuously being developed to push the limit of resolution and extract more quantitative data. Currently, correlative live cell imaging and high resolution three-dimensional imaging have already been achieved through the tandem use of optical and electron microscopy in analyzing biological specimens. Microscopy techniques are also used to measure protein binding affinities and determine the mobility pattern of proteins in cells. This chapter will consolidate on the applications of various well-established microscopy techniques in flavivirus research, and discuss how recently developed microscopy techniques can potentially help advance our understanding in these membrane viruses.
authors: Flavivirology Laboratory, Department of Microbiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University Health System, National University of Singapore, 5 Science Drive 2, MD4 Level 3, Singapore 117545, Singapore.
authors: Mun Keat
authors: MK
authors: Chong
authors: Flavivirology Laboratory, Department of Microbiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University Health System, National University of Singapore, 5 Science Drive 2, MD4 Level 3, Singapore 117545, Singapore; NUS Graduate School for Integrative Sciences and Engineering, National University of Singapore, Centre for Life Sciences (CeLS), 28 Medical Drive, #05-01, Singapore 117456, Singapore.
authors: Anthony Jin Shun
authors: AJ
authors: Chua
authors: Flavivirology Laboratory, Department of Microbiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University Health System, National University of Singapore, 5 Science Drive 2, MD4 Level 3, Singapore 117545, Singapore.
authors: Terence Tze Tong
authors: TT
authors: Tan
authors: Electron Microscopy Unit, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University Health System, National University of Singapore, 12 Medical Drive, MD5, Singapore 117597, Singapore.
authors: Suat Hoon
authors: SH
authors: Tan
authors: Flavivirology Laboratory, Department of Microbiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University Health System, National University of Singapore, 5 Science Drive 2, MD4 Level 3, Singapore 117545, Singapore; NUS Graduate School for Integrative Sciences and Engineering, National University of Singapore, Centre for Life Sciences (CeLS), 28 Medical Drive, #05-01, Singapore 117456, Singapore; Electron Microscopy Unit, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University Health System, National University of Singapore, 12 Medical Drive, MD5, Singapore 117597, Singapore. Electronic address: micngml@nus.edu.sg.
authors: Mah Lee
authors: ML
authors: Ng
mesh_terms: D005416:Flavivirus / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008853:Microscopy / Q000379:methods*; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force / Q000379:methods; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning / Q000379:methods*; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission / Q000379:methods*; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence / Q000379:methods*; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000648:ultrastructure
chemical_list: D014764:Viral Proteins
keywords: Correlative light electron microscopy; Flavivirus; Fluorescence microscopy; Scanning electron microscopy; Super resolution microscopy; Transmission electron microscopy