Latest eBIC news

eBIC is inviting a limited number of users back on-site during June-August 2022. Onsite access will be prioritised based on technique used.  Order of priority is:

1. CryoCLEM                                     →  onsite
2. FIBSEM (Scios/Aquilos)               →  onsite
3. Lamellae tomography                →  apply
4. Cellular tomography                   →  apply
5. High-resolution tomography     →  remote
6. Single particles                            →  remote

For on-site access, users need to apply at least two weeks before session by emailing karen.davies@diamond.ac.uk with explanation as to why on-site access is essential for their visit. 

Krios III has been upgraded with a Selectris X imaging filter and Falcon 4i direct detector from ThermoFisher Scientific. The Selectris X offers reduced aberrations compared with the standard Selectris filter and allows for the use of a finer energy selecting slit, giving improved contrast for tomography data. The upgrade from Falcon 4 to 4i will improve throughput for all data collections.

Additionally Krios I-IV have all been upgraded to Windows 10, allowing eBIC to take advantage of the latest new features and software developments as they become available.

The CCP-EM Spring Symposium conference aims to provide a forum to highlight state of the art developments in computational cryo-EM and related themes as well as showcasing outstanding recent biological applications.

The first day includes the biological cryo-imaging user meeting for eBIC & B24 and is organised by the Diamond Light Source. PDF for the user meeting schedule available here.

Further details about the CCP-EM Spring Symposium 2022.

Lorna Malone joins the eBIC team as an Electron Microscope Scientist.

Satinder Kaur and Kyprianos Hadjidemetriou join eBIC as PDRAs, working closely with Dr Peijun Zhang on Bacterial Chemotaxis using cryo-electron Tomography.

Nature Protocols article - published online 12th January 2022.

Cryo-electron tomography and subtomogram averaging (STA) has developed rapidly in recent years. It provides structures of macromolecular complexes in situ and in cellular context at or below subnanometer resolution and has led to unprecedented insights into the inner working of molecular machines in their native environment, as well as their functional relevant conformations and spatial distribution within biological cells or tissues. Given the tremendous potential of cryo-electron tomography STA in in situ structural cell biology, we previously developed emClarity, a graphics processing unit-accelerated image-processing software that offers STA and classification of macromolecular complexes at high resolution. However, the workflow remains challenging, especially for newcomers to the field. In this protocol, we describe a detailed workflow, processing and parameters associated with each step, from initial tomography tilt-series data to the final 3D density map, with several features unique to emClarity. Read the full article here.

Nature Protocols - DOI 10.1038/s41596-021-00648-5

Full-text access to a view-only version of the paper, with Enhanced PDF features such as annotation tools, one-click supplements, citation file exports and article metrics, is available by using the following SharedIt link: https://rdcu.be/cERHG

News release: EurekAlert! - published Friday,19th November 2021.
A new technique using electron tomography and subtomogram averaging at Diamond’s electron Bio-Imaging Centre (eBIC), has solved the structure of the HIV capsid alone and in complex with host factors. This work also led to the building of an atomistic model of the whole HIV capsid using information gained from electron tomography, which the team believe could serve as a blueprint for the development of capsid-targeting antivirals. Read the full article here.

Science Advances - DOI 10.1126/sciadv.abj5715

Matt Byrne joined eBIC in August 2021 as Electron Microscope Scientist, following his postdoctoral studies at the Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology (Leeds).

eBIC and Instruct-ERIC are pleased to be delivering a training course this May, for single particle analysis entitled 'Fully remote data collection on eBIC cryoEM instruments'. The course will introduce and demonstrate our preferred tools for discussing experiments and keeping contact, ISPyB mediated sample shipping, EPU concepts/setup and ISPyB mediated on-the-fly data processing.

Kyle Morris joined eBIC in April as Senior Scientist and Training Coordinator, and has already started delivering eBIC's training programme with the 1st remote training sessions taking place at the end of April. Kyle is now busy working on future eBIC training workshops and events.

Davide Zabeo joined the eBIC team in April, after completing his PhD at the University of Gothenburg, in Sweden. Davide will be working closely with Karen Davies (eBIC PBS).

eBIC are pleased to announce upgrades to Titan Krios are underway, with the first Krios having now been installed with Fringe Free Imaging. The first FFI session took place at the end of April 2021.

Krios 2, 3 and 4 have now been upgraded with Fringe free illumination. This has increased data collection throughput with a maximum rate of 800 movies per hour with EPU. This upgrade will increase data collection speeds for all sample and is currently available on the user program. For further details please speak to your local contact before your eBIC visit.

Karen Davies

Joining the eBIC team in March 2021 is Karen Davies. Karen is an experienced electron cryo-microscopist specialising in electron cryo-tomography and subtomogram averaging. She has a strong publication record in the field of bioenergetics with a particular focus on the structure and organisation of ATP synthases in mitochondria. Karen joins us from the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, USA where she was a staff scientist and Adjust Assistant Professor with UCB for 5 years.

All the eBIC team are pleased to welcome Karen and look forward to working together with her and the other PBS’s to develop the eBIC facility alongside Peijun Zhang, eBIC’s director.