Cryo-electron microscopy (cryoEM) has been transformed over the last decade, with continual new hardware and software tools coming online, pushing the boundaries of what is possible and the nature and complexity of projects that can be undertaken. Here we discuss some recent trends and new tools which are creating opportunities to make more effective use of the resources available within facilities (both staff and equipment). We present approaches for the stratification of projects based on risk and known information about the projects, and the impacts this might have on the allocation of microscope time. We show that allocating different resources (microscope time) based on this information can lead to a significant increase in 'successful' use of the microscope, and reduce lead time by enabling projects to 'fail faster'. This model results in more efficient and sustainable cryoEM facility operation.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/d2fd00129b | DOI Listing |
Curr Protoc
January 2025
Department of Microbiology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
Competitive fitness is a fundamental concept in evolutionary biology that captures the ability of organisms to survive, reproduce, and compete for resources in their environment. Competitive fitness is typically assessed in the lab by growing two or more competitors together and measuring the frequency of each at multiple time points. Traditional microbial competitive fitness assays are labor intensive and involve plating on solid medium and counting colonies.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFFront Parasitol
January 2025
World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) and National Reference Laboratory for Echinococcosis, Istituto Zooprofilattico della Sardegna, Sassari, Italy.
Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is a zoonotic disease caused by sensu lato, the metacestode of a tapeworm parasite of high medical importance. Infection of the parasite leads to the development of echinococcal cysts, and the spleen is a rarely infected organ. A 46-year-old woman who was born and who resides in Sardinia, Italy, was referred to the Echinococcosis outpatient clinic at the University Hospital of Sassari (Sardinia, Italy) for a pain in the left flank.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCryopreservation is a widely used technique to preserve biological samples for extended periods of time at low temperatures. Even though it is known to have significant effects on cell viability, its effect on their metabolism remains unexplored. Studying how cryopreservation influences the metabolism of cells is important to guarantee the reliability of samples transported between sites for analysis.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInt J Nanomedicine
January 2025
School of Pharmacy, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, 750004, People's Republic of China.
Objective: This study focuses on the development and evaluation of nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) loaded with aloperine as a potential therapeutic approach for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension.
Methods: The NLCs were designed to enhance the solubility, stability, and bioavailability of aloperine, a compound with vasodilatory and anti-inflammatory properties. Through a series of experiments including single-factor experimentation, transmission electron microscopy, high-performance liquid chromatography, in vivo pharmacokinetics, and tissue distribution studies, we assessed the physicochemical properties, drug release profiles, and in vitro and in vivo performance of this novel nanocarrier.
Front Plant Sci
January 2025
Department of Biology, University of Mississippi, University, MS, United States.
Temperature control is crucial for live cell imaging, particularly in studies involving plant responses to high ambient temperatures and thermal stress. This study presents the design, development, and testing of two cost-effective heating devices tailored for confocal microscopy applications: an aluminum heat plate and a wireless mini-heater. The aluminum heat plate, engineered to integrate seamlessly with the standard 160 mm × 110 mm microscope stage, supports temperatures up to 36°C, suitable for studies in the range of non-stressful warm temperatures (e.
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