Correlative Light and Electron Microscopy (CLEM)

Method Specification

Many biological insights can be obtained by combining the power of Fluorescence Microscopy with that of Electron Microscopy to study the same sample – this is called Correlative Light and Electron Microscopy (CLEM). In Fluorescence Microscopy, specific biological entities can be labelled and identified. In Electron Microscopy, the biological context can be observed in high-resolution. CLEM involves processing specimens for light microscopy and imaging by fluorescence followed by preparation and imaging by electron microscopy.

Correlative of cryo-light and cryo-electron microscopy is the combination of Fluorescence Microscopy and Electron Microscopy in cryogenic temperatures. Imaging at cryogenic temperatures has the advantage of preservation of the cellular structures in a near-native state by converting liquid water into amorphous ice.CLEM of intracellular bacteria in human breast cancer. Fluorescence image shows nucleus in blue and bacteria labeling in red. 
[1] Nejman D, Livyatan I, Fuks G, et al. The human tumor microbiome is composed of tumor type-specific intracellular bacteria. Science. 368(6494):973-980 (2020).
 

 

Staff Contacts