Morphological Characterization of the Self-Assembly of Virus Movement Proteins into Nanotubes in the Absence of Virus Particles.

One infection mechanism of plant viruses is the generation of nanotubes by viral movement proteins, allowing cell-to-cell virus particle transport. Previously, it was assumed that viral nanotubes extend directly from the host-cell plasma membrane. In virus-infected plants, these nanotubes reach an extraordinary diameter:length ratio (≈100 nm:µm or mm range).

A Descriptive in vitro Electron Microscopic Study of Acidic Fluoride-Treated Enamel: Potential Anti-Erosion Effects.

This study aimed to investigate the surface zones of acidic fluoride-treated enamel. Human teeth were each divided into three or four enamel specimens that were treated for 10 min with solutions of 0.2 and 0.

FIB preparation and SEM investigations for three-dimensional analysis of cell cultures on microneedle arrays.

We report the investigation of the interfaces between microneedle arrays and cell cultures in patch-on-chip systems by using Focused Ion Beam (FIB) preparation and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). First, FIB preparations of micro chips are made to determine the size and shape of the designed microneedles. In this essay, we investigate the cell-substrate interaction, especially the cell adhesion, and the microneedle's potential cell penetration.

Investigation of cell-substrate interactions by focused ion beam preparation and scanning electron microscopy.

Cell-substrate interactions, which are an important issue in tissue engineering, have been studied using focused ion beam (FIB) milling and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Sample cross-sections were generated at predefined positions (target preparation) to investigate the interdependency of growing cells and the substrate material. The experiments focus on two cell culturing systems, hepatocytes (HepG2) on nanoporous aluminum oxide (alumina) membranes and mouse fibroblasts (L929) and primary nerve cells on silicon chips comprised of microneedles.

In vitro investigation of the geometric contraction behavior of chemo-mechanical P-protein aggregates (forisomes).

We investigated the contracting behavior of forisomes from Vicia faba by carrying out precise measurements of their changing geometric parameters in vitro in the absence and in the presence of dissolved oxygen. Furthermore, we investigated the fine structure of forisomes by scanning electron microscopy. For the first time, single forisomes were titrated with Ca(2+), protons, and hydroxide ions recording the complete progression of their contractions.