Virus Detection and Identification Using the iEM Platform

The ongoing theme of the COVID-19 pandemic has greatly promoted research on virus detection and identification. To date, a wide spectrum of methods have been used to determine viruses. Among them, electron microscopy (EM) is a powerful tool in the field of virology research, playing an important role in the rapid diagnosis of viruses in the host or the environment. Creative Biostructure is a forward-looking research institute as well as a leading custom service provider in virology research. We focus on virus detection and identification, providing a series of advanced EM methods to meet customers" project needs.

Virus Detection and Identification at the iEM Platform

Global trade, travel, and climate change have opened up the viral superhighway, leading to highly dynamic viral transmission and evolution. Electron microscopy (EM) and other analytical techniques have been used to provide valuable insights into a variety of virus studies. Routine diagnostics, such as ELISA and PCR technologies are challenged. EM can promote viral diagnoses, as well as in the study of virus structure and pathogenesis. For virus detection and identification, we employ imaging techniques with nanometer-scale resolution, including transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM). Sample preparation includes negative staining, ultrathin sectioning, cryo-ultramicrotomym, and so on. These techniques allow the direct visualization of viruses and serve as an initial screening test to identify unknown viruses, providing the previous knowledge of the virus before coming into the next identification stage.

• Detection and identification of the human gut virus

The gut virome comprises eukaryotic viruses and bacteriophages. Bacteriophages are dominated in gut virome, believed to play crucial roles in shaping microbial communities. The human gut virus community (virome) has an important role in human health and disease, which has received more attention recently. It is estimated that the number and types of human-associated viruses are underestimated in the human gut, which means a great number of uncharacterized viruses that reside with us are waiting to be explored.

• Detection and identification of plant viruses

Most plant viruses are viruses with RNA genomes, which have a high mutation rate. In addition to the rapid evolution and adaptation of viruses, external factors such as climate change and international trade of plant materials have also contribute to the emergence of new plant viral diseases. Plant viruses are a great threat to productive and sustainable agriculture worldwide, causing considerable economic losses (several billion dollars) every year. To control plant disease caused by viruses, fast and accurate identification of the causal agent is the first and critical procedure.

• Detection and identification of insect viruses

As the most abundant and diverse animals on earth, insects are one of the major reservoirs and vectors of viruses. Insect-borne viruses have become a global health concern resulting in multiple infectious disease outbreaks. To better deal with arboviral threats, it is necessary to identify novel insect viruses and expand the reservoir of viruses in insect vectors.

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