title: Imaging single cells in a beam of live cyanobacteria with an X-ray laser.
abstract: There exists a conspicuous gap of knowledge about the organization of life at mesoscopic levels. Ultra-fast coherent diffractive imaging with X-ray free-electron lasers can probe structures at the relevant length scales and may reach sub-nanometer resolution on micron-sized living cells. Here we show that we can introduce a beam of aerosolised cyanobacteria into the focus of the Linac Coherent Light Source and record diffraction patterns from individual living cells at very low noise levels and at high hit ratios. We obtain two-dimensional projection images directly from the diffraction patterns, and present the results as synthetic X-ray Nomarski images calculated from the complex-valued reconstructions. We further demonstrate that it is possible to record diffraction data to nanometer resolution on live cells with X-ray lasers. Extension to sub-nanometer resolution is within reach, although improvements in pulse parameters and X-ray area detectors will be necessary to unlock this potential.
authors: Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics, Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Uppsala University, Husargatan 3 (Box 596), SE-751 24 Uppsala, Sweden.
authors: Gijs
authors: G
authors: van der Schot
authors: Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics, Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Uppsala University, Husargatan 3 (Box 596), SE-751 24 Uppsala, Sweden.
authors: Martin
authors: M
authors: Svenda
authors: 1] Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics, Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Uppsala University, Husargatan 3 (Box 596), SE-751 24 Uppsala, Sweden [2] Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, 1 Cyclotron Road Mail Stop 943-256, Berkeley, California 94720, USA.
authors: Filipe R N C
authors: FR
authors: Maia
authors: Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics, Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Uppsala University, Husargatan 3 (Box 596), SE-751 24 Uppsala, Sweden.
authors: Max
authors: M
authors: Hantke
authors: 1] Center for Free-Electron Laser Science, DESY, Notkestrasse 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany [2] LCLS, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, 2575 Sand Hill Road, Menlo Park, California 94025, USA.
authors: Daniel P
authors: DP
authors: DePonte
authors: 1] Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics, Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Uppsala University, Husargatan 3 (Box 596), SE-751 24 Uppsala, Sweden [2] LCLS, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, 2575 Sand Hill Road, Menlo Park, California 94025, USA.
authors: M Marvin
authors: MM
authors: Seibert
authors: 1] Center for Free-Electron Laser Science, DESY, Notkestrasse 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany [2] The European XFEL GmbH, Albert-Einstein-Ring 19, 22761 Hamburg, Germany.
authors: Andrew
authors: A
authors: Aquila
authors: 1] Center for Free-Electron Laser Science, DESY, Notkestrasse 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany [2] The European XFEL GmbH, Albert-Einstein-Ring 19, 22761 Hamburg, Germany.
authors: Joachim
authors: J
authors: Schulz
authors: Center for Free-Electron Laser Science, DESY, Notkestrasse 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany.
authors: Richard
authors: R
authors: Kirian
authors: Center for Free-Electron Laser Science, DESY, Notkestrasse 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany.
authors: Mengning
authors: M
authors: Liang
authors: 1] Center for Free-Electron Laser Science, DESY, Notkestrasse 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany [2] I.N.F.N. and Physics Department, University of Rome 'Tor Vergata', Via della Ricerca Scientifica 1, 00133 Rome, Italy.
authors: Francesco
authors: F
authors: Stellato
authors: Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics, Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Uppsala University, Husargatan 3 (Box 596), SE-751 24 Uppsala, Sweden.
authors: Bianca
authors: B
authors: Iwan
authors: Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics, Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Uppsala University, Husargatan 3 (Box 596), SE-751 24 Uppsala, Sweden.
authors: Jakob
authors: J
authors: Andreasson
authors: Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics, Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Uppsala University, Husargatan 3 (Box 596), SE-751 24 Uppsala, Sweden.
authors: Nicusor
authors: 0000000173280400
authors: N
authors: Timneanu
authors: Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics, Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Uppsala University, Husargatan 3 (Box 596), SE-751 24 Uppsala, Sweden.
authors: Daniel
authors: D
authors: Westphal
authors: Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics, Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Uppsala University, Husargatan 3 (Box 596), SE-751 24 Uppsala, Sweden.
authors: F Nunes
authors: FN
authors: Almeida
authors: Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics, Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Uppsala University, Husargatan 3 (Box 596), SE-751 24 Uppsala, Sweden.
authors: Dusko
authors: D
authors: Odic
authors: Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics, Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Uppsala University, Husargatan 3 (Box 596), SE-751 24 Uppsala, Sweden.
authors: Dirk
authors: D
authors: Hasse
authors: Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics, Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Uppsala University, Husargatan 3 (Box 596), SE-751 24 Uppsala, Sweden.
authors: Gunilla H
authors: GH
authors: Carlsson
authors: Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics, Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Uppsala University, Husargatan 3 (Box 596), SE-751 24 Uppsala, Sweden.
authors: Daniel S D
authors: DS
authors: Larsson
authors: Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, 1 Cyclotron Road Mail Stop 943-256, Berkeley, California 94720, USA.
authors: Anton
authors: A
authors: Barty
authors: 1] Center for Free-Electron Laser Science, DESY, Notkestrasse 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany [2] ARC Centre of Excellence for Coherent X-ray Science, School of Physics, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia.
authors: Andrew V
authors: AV
authors: Martin
authors: LCLS, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, 2575 Sand Hill Road, Menlo Park, California 94025, USA.
authors: Sebastian
authors: S
authors: Schorb
authors: LCLS, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, 2575 Sand Hill Road, Menlo Park, California 94025, USA.
authors: Christoph
authors: C
authors: Bostedt
authors: LCLS, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, 2575 Sand Hill Road, Menlo Park, California 94025, USA.
authors: John D
authors: JD
authors: Bozek
authors: Center for Free-Electron Laser Science, DESY, Notkestrasse 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany.
authors: Daniel
authors: D
authors: Rolles
authors: 1] Center for Free-Electron Laser Science, DESY, Notkestrasse 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany [2] Department of Physics, Kansas State University, 331 Cardwell Hall, Manhattan, Kansas 66506, USA.
authors: Artem
authors: A
authors: Rudenko
authors: Center for Free-Electron Laser Science, DESY, Notkestrasse 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany.
authors: Sascha
authors: S
authors: Epp
authors: Max-Planck-Institut für medizinische Forschung, Jahnstr. 29, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany.
authors: Lutz
authors: L
authors: Foucar
authors: Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB) Bundesallee 100, 38116 Braunschweig, Germany.
authors: Benedikt
authors: B
authors: Rudek
authors: PNSensor GmbH, Römerstrasse 28, 80803 München, Germany.
authors: Robert
authors: R
authors: Hartmann
authors: 1] PNSensor GmbH, Römerstrasse 28, 80803 München, Germany [2] Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics, Giessenbachstrasse, 85741 Garching, Germany.
authors: Nils
authors: N
authors: Kimmel
authors: PNSensor GmbH, Römerstrasse 28, 80803 München, Germany.
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: Holl
authors: Institute of Physics, Carl von Ossietzky Universitaet Oldenburg, Carl-von-Ossietzky-Straße 9-11, D-26129 Oldenburg, Germany.
authors: Lars
authors: L
authors: Englert
authors: Centre for BioImaging Sciences, National University of Singapore, 14 Science Drive 4, Singapore 117557, Singapore.
authors: Ne-Te
authors: NT
authors: Duane Loh
authors: 1] Center for Free-Electron Laser Science, DESY, Notkestrasse 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany [2] University of Hamburg, Notkestrasse 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany.
authors: Henry N
authors: 0000000246551743
authors: HN
authors: Chapman
authors: Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics, Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Uppsala University, Husargatan 3 (Box 596), SE-751 24 Uppsala, Sweden.
authors: Inger
authors: I
authors: Andersson
authors: 1] Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics, Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Uppsala University, Husargatan 3 (Box 596), SE-751 24 Uppsala, Sweden [2] The European XFEL GmbH, Albert-Einstein-Ring 19, 22761 Hamburg, Germany.
authors: Janos
authors: J
authors: Hajdu
authors: Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics, Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Uppsala University, Husargatan 3 (Box 596), SE-751 24 Uppsala, Sweden.
authors: Tomas
authors: T
authors: Ekeberg
mesh_terms: D000336:Aerosols; D000458:Cyanobacteria / Q000166:cytology*; D000068598:Data Accuracy; D004583:Electrons; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D007267:Injections; D007834:Lasers; D055620:Optical Phenomena; D017785:Photons; D059010:Single-Cell Analysis / Q000379:methods*; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction; D014965:X-Rays
chemical_list: D000336:Aerosols