Developments in technologies surrounding cryo-EM and light microscopy have transformed the fields of correlative microscopy and structural virology. It is now possible to achieve nanometer, sub-nanometer and near atomic resolution structures of macromolecular complexes and viruses via cryo-EM. In addition, correlative light and electron microscopy (CLEM) technologies have provided a means for probing the spatiotemporal landscapes of cells and viruses at high resolution and in four-dimensions.

My laboratory uses cryo-EM, CLEM and molecular biology approaches to explore the three-dimensional (3D) structures of viruses and cells. I will discuss some of our contributions to the fields of electron microscopy and structural virology. In particular, I will present data on our cryo-EM structural investigations of pleomorphic enveloped viruses, namely respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), measles virus, and retroviruses. I will also present results of our cryo-EM methods development as applied to studies of viruses and cells.

The lecture is part of the MAX4ESSFUN INTERREG Summer School; Data collection and structure determination in macromolecular crystallography, AU Summer School in crystallography