Molluscum Contagiosum; the focus is on the molluscum bodies, which affect the cell leaving it ballonated and purplish. It is a virus (pox virus) common in children and adults in the genital area, Primostar 3, 10x objective, Axiocam 208 color, — Dr. Maria Del Carmen Rodriguez

Microscopy applications for your laboratory

Microscopy Solutions for Virology

The Study of Viruses and Viral Diseases

Virology is an important field within microbiology and is concerned with the study of viruses and viral diseases. The impact of viruses on the population is enormous, as they can cause severe endemic or even pandemic diseases, such as the Spanish flu (H1N1 influenza virus), Aids (Human immunodeficiency virus HIV), dengue fever (dengue virus DENV), or most recently Covid-19 (Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2).

Studying viruses, their interaction with host cells, and the immune response to the virus helps to develop vaccines and treatments against viral pathogens. Therefore, virology is often strongly connected to immunology.

Exceptional resolution & sensitivity

ZEISS platforms—from widefield to super-resolution—provide sub-diffraction imaging with high signal-to-noise ratios.
Live-cell & gentle imaging for dynamic processes

Experience long-term live-cell imaging with minimal phototoxicity and photobleaching.
Integrated correlative & multiplex workflows

Multiplex dozens of viral and host markers, giving a complete picture from whole-cell context down to individual virions.

Visualize viruses clearly

Application examples for virology studies

Miika Leppänen, University of Jyväskylä | Finland

Interactions of viruses with bacteria as it happens on the bacteria plate

Dr. Maria Del Carmen Rodriguez

Brightfield pox virus acquired with ZEISS Primostar 3

M. Hannah, Public Health England | UK

SARS-CoV-2 grown in a tissue culture and inactivated by chemical fixation

P. Walther, University of Ulm | Germany

Intracellular and membrane-bound distribution of GFP-labeled cytomegaloviruses

Caroline Charlier & Daniel Dunia | Toulouse, France

Primary neuronal cultures stained for Bornavirus antigens and Tetanus toxin

ZEISS Axio Observer for live-cell imaging of infected cultures

Allen Liu | University of Michigan — Allen Liu is an Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Michigan, USA.

User Story

Analyzing Influenza A Virus entry through Lattice Lightsheet microscopy

Researchers at the University of Michigan used ZEISS Lattice Lightsheet 7 to watch influenza A virus enter living cells in real time. By fluorescently labeling the virus, clathrin, and the membrane-bending protein epsin, they captured high-resolution 3D movies showing how the virus exploits epsin to bend the cell membrane and trigger endocytosis. The gentle lattice light sheet illumination minimized photobleaching, allowing long, continuous imaging and revealing detailed virus–host interactions that traditional confocal methods often miss.

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Unlike traditional microscopy, lattice light sheet technique allowed us to visualize the viral entry on the entire cell surface. Furthermore, we were able to track IAVs before and after they attach to the cell membrane.

Dr. Allen Liu University of Michigan

SARS-CoV-2 Research at CEINGE — Dr. Massimo Zollo (left) with his collaborator, Dr. Veronica Ferrucci, at their ZEISS Elyra 7 super-resolution system.

User Story

Antiviral actions of polyphosphates against SARS-CoV-2 visualized with super-resolution microscopy

At CEINGE in Italy, researchers used ZEISS Elyra 7 super-resolution microscopy to visualize how long-chain polyphosphates inhibit SARS-CoV-2 infection. By immunostaining viral spike proteins, ACE2, and viral RNA in HEK293-ACE2 cells, they directly observed that polyphosphates disrupt syncytia formation and reduce viral replication. The high spatial resolution of Elyra 7 allowed precise colocalization studies in subcellular compartments, strengthening mechanistic insights into antiviral actions at the molecular level.

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Super-resolution microscopy using ZEISS Elyra 7 turned out to be a powerful tool to visualize SARS-CoV-2 viral proteins (through immunofluorescence) and/or RNA (via HuluFISH) in specific cellular compartments, such as membrane or cytosol.

Dr. Veronica Ferrucci University Federico II and CEINGE Biotecnologie Avanzate, Italy

Microscopy Solutions for Virology

Microscope Requirements

For observation and maintenance purposes in cell culture, inverted light microscopes with a small footprint, LED fluorescence option, good ergonomics and high-quality optics for reliable digital documentation are essential tools. Immunofluorescence opens up the rapid detection of viral agents with direct (DFA) or indirect fluorescence antibody (IFA) tests, including antibody test kits against herpes simplex (HSV), Influenza A, other respiratory viruses and enteroviruses.

Automated boxed microscopes with integrated calibration, environmental control and fluorescence options are ideal for lab environments with high throughput demands, enabling fully automated 2D and 3D screening of cell cultures and tissues. Confocal microscopes give the virologist the option to investigate the details of cellular invasion in greater detail and prepare the respective sample for further investigation with immune electron microscopy.

Recent developments in scanning electron microscopy (SEM) have shown to meet the resolution and image quality requirements for virus studies. The large field of view imaging mode in combination with correlative light microscopy and automated workflows saves valuable time in finding relevant viral spots and provides fast results, even in 3D.

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