Giant E. coli lands in Brno for the Days of Electron Microscopy
An unusual object has appeared in the centre of Brno: a giant inflatable bacterium of E. coli. The model draws attention to the Moravian capital’s strong tradition in electron microscopy and the upcoming Days of Electron Microscopy festival. Why was this famous bacterium chosen as this year’s symbol of the event? That’s a question I put to festival organizer Ondřej Kamenský.
“E. coli was one of the first objects that scientists in Brno observed using an electron microscope. It is also one of the most well-known and thoroughly researched bacteria in the world.”
“Every year we choose a different model or object, and this year it was E. coli. There is actually a reason behind that. E. coli was one of the first objects that scientists in Brno observed using an electron microscope. It is also one of the most well-known and thoroughly researched bacteria in the world, which makes it an ideal example for the Day of Electron Microscopy.
“So this year, anyone who comes to Brno for the event can see it as a six-meter-tall inflatable model. That makes it, I think, approximately a three-million-times magnified bacterium."
What exactly is an electron microscope, and what can scientists see with it?
“The instrument is called an electron microscope because, instead of regular light like conventional microscopes, it uses a focused beam of electrons.
“I don’t think we need to go too deeply into the physics behind it, but the result is incredibly high resolution, on the scale of nanometres. This allows scientists to study extremely small structures, down to the size of atoms.
“With electron microscopes you can study viruses, bacteria, or proteins, and even analyse the atomic composition of materials. In other words, you can investigate almost anything at a very, very small scale.”
Brno is sometimes described as one of the world’s centres of electron microscopy. How did the city develop such a strong tradition in this field?
“This tradition goes back to the 1950s, when the first electron microscope was built in Brno by academic pioneers. It attracted a lot of attention and was a huge success. Soon afterward, the technology moved into industrial production, and many microscopes were manufactured under the Tesla Brno company.
“Later, especially after the Velvet Revolution, many smaller spin-off companies emerged, such as TESCAN and Delong Instruments. This development continued and attracted attention from global industry leaders like Thermo Fisher Scientific.
“Today, Brno has the highest concentration of companies related to electron microscopy anywhere in the world. Approximately 30 percent of all electron microscopes worldwide are made here.”
“Over time, this created a unique ecosystem. Today, Brno has the highest concentration of companies related to electron microscopy anywhere in the world. As a result, approximately 30 percent of all electron microscopes worldwide are made in Brno.”
Where are microscopes made in Brno used today, and what kinds of discoveries do they help scientists make?
“It is difficult to pick just a few examples. Microscopes made in Brno are used in many countries around the world and across a wide range of fields.
"They are used in laboratories and hospitals, where scientists study viruses or conduct cancer research. They can also help in developing targeted treatments or designing specialized drugs for particular diseases.
"But their applications go far beyond medicine. NASA, for example, uses electron microscopes to analyse materials such as lunar soil. Companies rely on them when designing batteries or semiconductors, which are developed on nanometre scales.
"One example that comes to mind is that electron microscopes were used to determine the structure of the spike protein during the development of COVID-19 vaccines. So their use extends from hospitals and research labs to industry and the development of many different technologies.”
And finally, what can visitors see or experience during this year’s Days of Electron Microscopy festival?
“This festival takes place across the city and is spread over many different locations. It runs from Monday, March 23 until Sunday.
“Visitors can take part in excursions to leading companies, research institutes, and universities. There will also be exhibitions, expert lectures, open-house days, and even hands-on workshops with microscopes.
“The event is intended for families, students, and essentially anyone interested in science and electron microscopy. People can visit places such as Thermo Fisher Scientific, CEITEC at Masaryk University, the Brno University of Technology, or Mendel University.
“For those who may not be particularly interested in biology, there are other options as well. For example, the Institute of Archaeology at the Czech Academy of Sciences will host a lecture about how scientists used an electron microscope to study a ninth-century jewel and determine its material composition and surface.
“And if archaeology is not your thing either, there is even a lecture titled The Microworld of Beer. So I think everyone can find something they will enjoy during the week of the festival.”
Odkaz na akci: https://dembrno.cz/
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