Visualization of SARS-CoV-2 particles in naso/oropharyngeal swabs by thin section electron microscopy – data set 01

We developed a sedimentation method using desktop ultracentrifugation (see description below) to visualize SARS-CoV-2 particles in suspensions from oro- and/or nasopharyngeal swabs by thin section electron microscopy. A detailed description of the methods and the data set is provided in the download container.

Data set 01 is a stitched image montage recorded from an area of a thin section through the sediment obtained from a swab sample which was positive by quantitative PCR (delta variant). Two, more or less, intact ciliated cells are visible and surrounded by other cells or cellular debris. The ciliated cell in the upper right corner is infected with SARS-CoV-2. Virus particles are visible within membrane-bound compartments of the cytoplasm. Several double-membrane vesicles, which are typical compartments of the coronavirus replication machinery, are also detectable.

Related publication: Laue M, Hoffmann T, Michel J, Nitsche A. Visualization of SARS-CoV-2 particles in naso/oropharyngeal swabs by thin section electron microscopy. Virol J. 2023 Feb 6;20(1):21. doi: 10.1186/s12985-023-01981-9. PMID: 36747188; PMCID: PMC9901382.