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Untitled 1
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ANNUAL CONFERENCE :: Abstract Library
Abstract Library
2003 Conference Abstract
| Type of Submission |
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Submission Type: |
Poster Presentation |
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Subject Category: |
Structure and Function |
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| Session Information |
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Presentation Date: |
May 26, 2003 |
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Abstract ID: |
F3 |
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Session: |
Poster 1 |
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Time: |
14:00 |
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| Presenting Author |
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| Other Authors |
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G.D.W. SWERHONE, National Water Research Institute, 11 Innovation Blvd., Saskatoon, SK, Canada
G.G. LEPPARD, 2. NWRI, PO Box 5050, 867 Lakeshore Road, Burlington, Ontario, Canada
T. ARAKI, 4. Brockhouse Institute for Materials Research, McMaster University, Hamilton, On, Canada
M.M. WEST, 3. Electron Microscopy Facility, Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
A.P. HITCHCOCK, 4. Brockhouse Institute for Materials Research, McMaster University, Hamilton, On, Canada
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| Title |
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Mapping biofilm constituents using scanning transmission X-ray microscopy. |
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| Abstract Text |
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Scanning transmission X-ray microscopy (STXM) which uses near edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy (NEXAFS) as its contrast mechanism, is a new tool that may be applied to fully hydrated biological materials such as microbial biofilms. This is possible due to the ability of soft X-rays to penetrate water, the presence of suitable analytical core edges in the soft X-ray region, and reduced radiation damage. Here we present the results of STXM techniques used to map the distribution of macromolecular sub components of a microbial biofilm matrix. Application of tuneable soft X-rays and appropriate analysis of X-ray absorption spectra in the form of NEXAFS image sequences allowed quantitative chemical mapping of biopolymers. These biopolymers included, protein, lipid, nucleic acids and polysaccharides which could be detected at a spatial scale of approximately 50 nm. Soft X-ray microscopy provided a combination of suitable spatial resolution and chemical information at a microscale. Further, STXM provided compositional mapping of macromolecule distributions without addition of reporters, probes, fixation and embedding. One limitation is the requirement for an X-ray transparent growth surface such as silicone nitride for application of STXM-NEXAFS. However, the approach has several advantages over laser and electron microscopy and may be used in combination with these approaches to create a detailed correlative map of biofilm structure and composition. |
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