Electron Microscopy and Structural Imaging of Biological Systems
This community focuses on the high-resolution visualization of cellular structures, proteins, and tissue architecture using advanced electron microscopy techniques. The work serves to map the physical organization of biological systems at the nanoscale, providing the structural context for understanding cellular function and disease mechanisms.
The research is dominated by the development and application of transmission and scanning electron microscopy, with significant emphasis on cryo-electron tomography and electron ptychography. Recurring themes include the structural analysis of the endothelial glycocalyx, heparan sulfate, and chondroitin sulfate, as well as detailed imaging of salivary glands and skin barriers. The community also investigates specific clinical conditions such as Silver-Russell syndrome and atopic dermatitis through these structural lenses. Methods frequently involve correlative light and electron microscopy, single-particle analysis, and ion beam techniques to resolve complex macromolecular assemblies and tissue ultrastructure.
The largest share of this research is found in silver studies, accounting for 1.1% of all silver research, and in osmium studies, which represent 7.9% of all osmium research. Silver also contributes the highest absolute number of papers within this group, with 1,901 entries.
The community comprises 23,114 papers, publishing most frequently in Stain Technology, the Journal of Histochemistry & Cytochemistry, and The Journal of Cell Biology.
Recent work continues to focus on the structural role of heparan sulfate in signaling and immune response, alongside advances in soft X-ray tomography for correlative imaging and the atomic-level resolution of lattice vibrations in materials.