ELECTRON-MICROSCOPY OF BIOLOGICAL SPECIMENS BY THE PLASMA-POLYMERIZATION VAPID-FREEZE REPLICA METHOD

The plasma-polymerization replica method is a unique replica technique for transmission electron microscopy. Ln the present study, we used t his method in combination with a rapid-freeze technique to observe T4 bacteriophages and hepatitis B virus core particles. The heads of T4 b acteriophages appeared hexagonal and measured similar to 110 nm in len gth. Striations in their tails were also visible, indicating that the resolution of the present method is better than 4 nm. The images corre sponded well with those obtained by ice-embedding and negative stainin g methods, with respect to both morphology and size of the phage parti cle. Hepatitis B virus core particles observed by the present method a ppeared round, similar to 30 nm in diameter, with hollow centres. Agai n, the morphology and size of the particles corresponded well with tho se obtained by ice-embedding, negative staining, and ultrathin section ing. From these results, we conclude that the plasma-polymerization ra pid-freeze replica method provides a useful technique for observation of biological specimens in a natural state and at high resolution.