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Electron Microscopy and Utramicrotomy

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Characterization of Plant Viruses

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Abstract

Virus particles can be seen only in transmission electron microscope. Transmission electron microscope not only helps to assess the purity of virus preparation but also throws light on the shape, size and surface details of virus particles. It is used to measure the dimension of the virus particles. Observation of virus particle morphology through electron microscopy (EM) is carried out either with purified virus preparations or with crude extracts of infected plant sap after negative staining. Besides, electron microscopy is also used in serological diagnosis of viruses through immunosorbent electron microscopy (ISEM). In the present chapter, process of sample preparation for the observation of shape and size of the virus particles in electron microscope is discussed. The process of ultrathin sectioning of the infected tissues for the observation of the virus particles in situ through EM is also discussed.

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Bhat, A.I., Rao, G.P. (2020). Electron Microscopy and Utramicrotomy. In: Characterization of Plant Viruses . Springer Protocols Handbooks. Humana, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-0334-5_23

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-0334-5_23

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  • Publisher Name: Humana, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-0716-0333-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-0716-0334-5

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