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Title | Construction and organization of a BSL-3 cryo-electron microscopy laboratory at UTMB. |
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Journal, issue, pages | J Struct Biol, Vol. 181, Issue 3, Page 223-233, Year 2013 |
Publish date | Dec 28, 2012 |
Authors | Michael B Sherman / Juan Trujillo / Ian Leahy / Dennis Razmus / Robert Dehate / Paul Lorcheim / Mark A Czarneski / Domenica Zimmerman / Je T'aime M Newton / Andrew D Haddow / Scott C Weaver / |
PubMed Abstract | A unique cryo-electron microscopy facility has been designed and constructed at the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) to study the three-dimensional organization of viruses and bacteria ...A unique cryo-electron microscopy facility has been designed and constructed at the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) to study the three-dimensional organization of viruses and bacteria classified as select agents at biological safety level (BSL)-3, and their interactions with host cells. A 200keV high-end cryo-electron microscope was installed inside a BSL-3 containment laboratory and standard operating procedures were developed and implemented to ensure its safe and efficient operation. We also developed a new microscope decontamination protocol based on chlorine dioxide gas with a continuous flow system, which allowed us to expand the facility capabilities to study bacterial agents including spore-forming species. The new unified protocol does not require agent-specific treatment in contrast to the previously used heat decontamination. To optimize the use of the cryo-electron microscope and to improve safety conditions, it can be remotely controlled from a room outside of containment, or through a computer network world-wide. Automated data collection is provided by using JADAS (single particle imaging) and SerialEM (tomography). The facility has successfully operated for more than a year without an incident and was certified as a select agent facility by the Centers for Disease Control. |
External links | J Struct Biol / PubMed:23274136 / PubMed Central |
Methods | EM (single particle) |
Resolution | 10.0 Å |
Structure data | EMDB-5563: |