Bacteria in high resolution

Scientists have captured the first high resolution X-ray image of living bacteria.

A research team from Uppsala University used X-ray diffraction to capture living blue-green bacteria - known as cyanobacteria - in high resolution.

“We have developed a unique way to rapidly explore, sort and analyse samples, with the possibility of reaching higher resolutions than other study methods. This could eventually be a complete game-changer,” said Janos Hajdu, a professor of biophysics at Uppsala University.

The scientists first sprayed the living cyanobacteria in a thin stream of humid gas to turn the bacteria into an aerosol form. Then the aerosol is exposed to an X-ray pulse from a light source known as Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS). The pulse collides with the bacteria and the scattered photons are then collected by a detector which creates a pattern that can be used to reconstruct the image of the cell.

This overcomes an issue common to X-ray tools where the radiation of the pulse damages and destroys the bacterium before a clear image is produced.

The technique can capture about 100 images per second which allows sorting and analysis of the inner structure and activity of biological particles on a massive scale, which could show the chronological steps of a range of cellular activities.

“You can study the full cycle of cellular processes, with each X-ray pulse providing a snapshot of the process you want to study,” said Tomas Ekeberg, a biophysicist at Uppsala University.

The researchers will now aim to improve the technique and focus on X-rays as part of the LCLS, as well as produce high-resolution 3-D images of living cells.

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