Transmission electron microscopy sample preparation protocols for the ultrastructural study of cysts of free-living protozoa

Cysts of free-living protozoa have an impact on the ecology and epidemiology of bacteria because they may act as a transmission vector or shelter the bacteria against hash environmental conditions. Detection and localization of intracystic bacteria and examination of the en- and excystment dynamics...

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Main Authors: Ellen Lambrecht, Julie Baré, Myriam Claeys, Natascha Chavatte, Wim Bert, Koen Sabbe, Kurt Houf
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2015-04-01
Series:BioTechniques
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Online Access:https://www.future-science.com/doi/10.2144/000114274
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author Ellen Lambrecht
Julie Baré
Myriam Claeys
Natascha Chavatte
Wim Bert
Koen Sabbe
Kurt Houf
author_facet Ellen Lambrecht
Julie Baré
Myriam Claeys
Natascha Chavatte
Wim Bert
Koen Sabbe
Kurt Houf
author_sort Ellen Lambrecht
collection DOAJ
description Cysts of free-living protozoa have an impact on the ecology and epidemiology of bacteria because they may act as a transmission vector or shelter the bacteria against hash environmental conditions. Detection and localization of intracystic bacteria and examination of the en- and excystment dynamics is a major challenge because no detailed protocols for ultrastructural analysis of cysts are currently available. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) is ideally suited for those analyses; however, conventional TEM protocols are not satisfactory for cysts of free-living protozoa. Here we report on the design and testing of four protocols for TEM sample preparation of cysts. Two protocols, one based on chemical fixation in coated well plates and one on high-pressure freezing, were selected as the most effective for TEM-based ultrastructural studies of cysts. Our protocols will enable improved analysis of cyst structure and a better understanding of bacterial survival mechanisms in cysts.
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spelling doaj-art-e254f0df878f408e9f559c0c5d4ed7002025-08-20T02:25:50ZengTaylor & Francis GroupBioTechniques0736-62051940-98182015-04-0158418118810.2144/000114274Transmission electron microscopy sample preparation protocols for the ultrastructural study of cysts of free-living protozoaEllen Lambrecht0Julie Baré1Myriam Claeys2Natascha Chavatte3Wim Bert4Koen Sabbe5Kurt Houf61Department of Veterinary Public Health and Food Safety, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium1Department of Veterinary Public Health and Food Safety, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium2Nematology Research Unit, Department of Biology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium1Department of Veterinary Public Health and Food Safety, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium2Nematology Research Unit, Department of Biology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium3Laboratory of Protistology and Aquatic Ecology, Department of Biology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium1Department of Veterinary Public Health and Food Safety, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, BelgiumCysts of free-living protozoa have an impact on the ecology and epidemiology of bacteria because they may act as a transmission vector or shelter the bacteria against hash environmental conditions. Detection and localization of intracystic bacteria and examination of the en- and excystment dynamics is a major challenge because no detailed protocols for ultrastructural analysis of cysts are currently available. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) is ideally suited for those analyses; however, conventional TEM protocols are not satisfactory for cysts of free-living protozoa. Here we report on the design and testing of four protocols for TEM sample preparation of cysts. Two protocols, one based on chemical fixation in coated well plates and one on high-pressure freezing, were selected as the most effective for TEM-based ultrastructural studies of cysts. Our protocols will enable improved analysis of cyst structure and a better understanding of bacterial survival mechanisms in cysts.https://www.future-science.com/doi/10.2144/000114274transmission electron microscopyprotozoan cystsultrastructural analysisintracellular survival
spellingShingle Ellen Lambrecht
Julie Baré
Myriam Claeys
Natascha Chavatte
Wim Bert
Koen Sabbe
Kurt Houf
Transmission electron microscopy sample preparation protocols for the ultrastructural study of cysts of free-living protozoa
BioTechniques
transmission electron microscopy
protozoan cysts
ultrastructural analysis
intracellular survival
title Transmission electron microscopy sample preparation protocols for the ultrastructural study of cysts of free-living protozoa
title_full Transmission electron microscopy sample preparation protocols for the ultrastructural study of cysts of free-living protozoa
title_fullStr Transmission electron microscopy sample preparation protocols for the ultrastructural study of cysts of free-living protozoa
title_full_unstemmed Transmission electron microscopy sample preparation protocols for the ultrastructural study of cysts of free-living protozoa
title_short Transmission electron microscopy sample preparation protocols for the ultrastructural study of cysts of free-living protozoa
title_sort transmission electron microscopy sample preparation protocols for the ultrastructural study of cysts of free living protozoa
topic transmission electron microscopy
protozoan cysts
ultrastructural analysis
intracellular survival
url https://www.future-science.com/doi/10.2144/000114274
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