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Start / Research / Research Reports / Research report 2020 / FB_Centers / FB_EMZ

The Center is a key facility of the Jena University Hospital for ultrastructural and electron microscopic requests of the clinics and institutes in the fields of medical cell biology, tumor research, sepsis research, morphology, dentistry, special diagnostic procedures, or bio-nanotechnology. Electron microscopy provides the unique opportunity of morphological findings at magnifications of 100,000x and reveals cellular structures of nanometres in size in high resolution.

The studies performed at the EMZ are of direct clinical or molecular medicine concern, e.g. in tumor- or sepsis research. Unrivalled true-to-life illustrations of cells and cell membranes completely without fixing or embedding can be achieved via freeze fracture electron microscopy. Here, living samples are directly frozen very rapidly within milliseconds and cleaved along a fracture plane. Moreover, a special immunolabeling technique allows localizing even single protein molecules.
Contact

PD Dr. Martin Westermann
Ziegelmühlenweg 1, 07743 Jena
 

Electron Microscopy Center

Methods and equipment

The center methods can be classified in three fields:

  • ultra-histology: study of morphologic aspects of cellular structures utilizing transmission electron microscopy together with ultra-thin cutting technique
  • cryo electron microscopy: true-to-life imaging of cells or biologic nanostructures after rapid freezing, e.g. nanoparticles, liposomes
  • surface electron microscopy: study of surface areas of cells or tissues as well as medical implants or engineered tissue at magnifications up to 100,000x

For all those methods, no alternative solutions are available featuring comparable resolution or details. Therefore the center supported in 2019 and 2020 more than 23 institutes and clinics of the Jena University Hospital in more than 35 studies. This work lead to 39 peer-reviewed scientific publications with center cooperation.

Electron micrograph (subsequently colored) of the blood-air barrier in the lung alveoles of a patient who died of COVID-19. There is only an extremely thin distance (about 150 nanometers) between the red blood cells and the respiratory air (light blue). In the blue-striped area, a healthy person would have a continuous layer of lung epithelial cells (pneumocytes type I), which form the surface-active surfactant. Due to the virus-induced death of these cells, the alveoli collapse and the lung loses its function.
Electron micrograph (subsequently colored) of the blood-air barrier in the lung alveoles of a patient who died of COVID-19. There is only an extremely thin distance (about 150 nanometers) between the red blood cells and the respiratory air (light blue). In the blue-striped area, a healthy person would have a continuous layer of lung epithelial cells (pneumocytes type I), which form the surface-active surfactant. Due to the virus-induced death of these cells, the alveoli collapse and the lung loses its function.

Research projects

Electron microscopic detection of cell damage and SARS-CoV-2 viruses in tissues from COVID-19 deceased patients

Project partners: Prof. Gita Mall, Institute for Forensic Medicine
EMZ: Dr. Sandor Nietzsche

Carl-Zeiß-Stiftung 2020

New diseases such as COVID-19 can be better understood through timely autopsies and scientific processing of the samples obtained. Deceased, died persons who were proven to be infected with SARS-CoV-2 are, if agreed, autopsied by the Institute of Forensic Medicine. The EMZ is involved in the extensive sample preservation of various organs and tissues for later, precise analysis in the electron microscope.

Further information

Press release

Electron microscopic studies on the pathogenesis of REEP1- and REEP2-associated axonopathies

Investigation of the correlation between lipofuscin deposition (LF) and the ultrastructure of smooth (SER) and rough (RER) endoplasmic reticulum in the cytoplasm of moto neurons in the cerebral cortex of a REEP1-ko-mouse
Investigation of the correlation between lipofuscin deposition (LF) and the ultrastructure of smooth (SER) and rough (RER) endoplasmic reticulum in the cytoplasm of moto neurons in the cerebral cortex of a REEP1-ko-mouse

Project partners: Prof. Christian Hübner, Human Genetics
EMZ: Dr. Sandor Nietzsche

Hereditary Spastic Paraplegias (HSPs) comprise a growing and heterogeneous group of diseases primarily affecting cortical motoneurons which thus lead to a progressive spastic gait disorder. The gene SPG31 is associated with autosomal-dominantly inherited HSP and encodes the ER-resident protein REEP1. Here, we study the roles of REEP1 for membrane shaping, ER structure and the consequences of REEP1 loss-of-function for the functionality of the ER..

Further information

Electron microscopic study of SARS-CoV-2 replication in a model to explore organ tropism of infection

Project partners: apl. Prof. Andreas Henke, Medical Microbiology
EMZ: Dr. Sandor Nietzsche

The project aims to elucidate the host tropism of the causative agent of the COVID-19 pandemic. This involves the electron microscopic detection of virus particles during their formation and their release after infection in the lung organ model.

Further information

Electron micrographs of newly formed (left) and released (right) SARS-CoV-2 viruses. For this purpose, Vero-76 cells were infected with SARS-CoV-2 isolates in cell culture.
Electron micrographs of newly formed (left) and released (right) SARS-CoV-2 viruses. For this purpose, Vero-76 cells were infected with SARS-CoV-2 isolates in cell culture.
Electron micrograph (subsequently colored) of SARS-CoV-2 viruses (red, diameter approx. 83 nanometers) on the surface of a lung cell examined in the laboratory experiment.
Electron micrograph (subsequently colored) of SARS-CoV-2 viruses (red, diameter approx. 83 nanometers) on the surface of a lung cell examined in the laboratory experiment.

Electron microscopic studies of skeletal muscle and its dysfunction in heart failure

Electron microscopic evidence of reduction and degeneration of mitochondria in thigh muscle tissue of heart failure patients with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction. (Comparison: left: healthy, right: heart failure).
Electron microscopic evidence of reduction and degeneration of mitochondria in thigh muscle tissue of heart failure patients with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction. (Comparison: left: healthy, right: heart failure).

Project partners: Prof. Christian Schulze, Internal medicine I
EMZ: Dr. Sandor Nietzsche

Electron microscopic characterization of N-Ank proteins in shaping membranes

Cryo-EM investigation of liposomes containing ankycorbin1-252. Cryo-EM reveals membrane-associated ankycorbin1-252 as patches of electron-dense material (arrows). The structures are often located at sites with local changes in membrane curvature. (Fig. from Wolf et al., 2019, bar 100 nm).
Cryo-EM investigation of liposomes containing ankycorbin1-252. Cryo-EM reveals membrane-associated ankycorbin1-252 as patches of electron-dense material (arrows). The structures are often located at sites with local changes in membrane curvature. (Fig. from Wolf et al., 2019, bar 100 nm).

Project partners: Prof. Britta Qualmann, Biochemistry I
EMZ: PD Dr. Martin Westermann, Dipl. Ing. Frank Steiniger

The aim of the project is to characterize the mechanisms of membrane-forming properties of members of the N-Ank protein family and to elucidate the cellular functions of these proteins. Alterations of N-Ank proteins are associated with various human diseases. The EMZ supports this project with the freeze-fracture technique and with cryo-EM studies.

Further information

 

Further projects

Selected Publikations

Outstanding achievements

Ther paper Deinhardt-Emmer et. al. was awarded “Paper of the Month”  by the German Society for Hygiene and Microbiology (DGHM) in February 2020.