Software tools for automated transmission electron microscopy

Nat Methods. 2019 Jun;16(6):471-477. doi: 10.1038/s41592-019-0396-9. Epub 2019 May 13.

Abstract

The demand for high-throughput data collection in electron microscopy is increasing for applications in structural and cellular biology. Here we present a combination of software tools that enable automated acquisition guided by image analysis for a variety of transmission electron microscopy acquisition schemes. SerialEM controls microscopes and detectors and can trigger automated tasks at multiple positions with high flexibility. Py-EM interfaces with SerialEM to enact specimen-specific image-analysis pipelines that enable feedback microscopy. As example applications, we demonstrate dose reduction in cryo-electron microscopy experiments, fully automated acquisition of every cell in a plastic section and automated targeting on serial sections for 3D volume imaging across multiple grids.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Humans
  • Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / methods*
  • Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / statistics & numerical data*
  • Microscopy, Electron, Transmission / instrumentation
  • Microscopy, Electron, Transmission / methods*
  • Software*