Concepts in Light Microscopy of Viruses

• Published in: Viruses Vol. 10; no. 4; p. 202
• Main Authors: Witte, Robert, Andriasyan, Vardan, Georgi, Fanny, Yakimovich, Artur, Greber, Urs F
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 18.04.2018; MDPI
• Subjects: Animals; Big Data; Biology; Chemistry; Fluorescence microscopy; Fluorescent indicators; Genomes; Hepatitis C; Host-Pathogen Interactions; Humans; Image processing; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted - methods; Infections; Labeling; Light; Light microscopy; Livestock; Microscopy; Microscopy, Fluorescence - methods; Optical Imaging - methods; Plants; Quantum dots; Review; Virology; Viruses; Viruses - growth & development; Viruses - pathogenicity; United States > US; infection; hepatitis B virus; simulation; super-resolution; image analysis; herpes simplex virus; live imaging; quantitative microscopy; computing; intracellular transport; adeno-associated virus AAV; innate immunity; herpesvirus; adenovirus; endocytosis; fluorescent virions; light microscopy; DNA virus; trafficking; enveloped virus; data analysis; RNA virus; cytoskeleton; gene therapy; immunofluorescence microscopy; machine learning; parvovirus; virus labeling; fluorescence microscopy; membrane traffic; virion uncoating; high-throughput screening, modeling; virus infection; baculovirus; cell biology; receptor; human immunodeficiency virus HIV; nonenveloped virus; influenza virus; virus entry; internalization; microscopy; simian virus 40; gene expression
• ISSN: 1999-4915; 1999-4915
• DOI: 10.3390/v10040202

Viruses threaten humans, livestock, and plants, and are difficult to combat. Imaging of viruses by light microscopy is key to uncover the nature of known and emerging viruses in the quest for finding new ways to treat viral disease and deepening the understanding of virus-host interactions. Here, we provide an overview of recent technology for imaging cells and viruses by light microscopy, in particular fluorescence microscopy in static and live-cell modes. The review lays out guidelines for how novel fluorescent chemical probes and proteins can be used in light microscopy to illuminate cells, and how they can be used to study virus infections. We discuss advantages and opportunities of confocal and multi-photon microscopy, selective plane illumination microscopy, and super-resolution microscopy. We emphasize the prevalent concepts in image processing and data analyses, and provide an outlook into label-free digital holographic microscopy for virus research.