Novel Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 Under

the Microscope
The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Rocky Mountain Laboratories
(NIAID-RML), located in Hamilton, Montana was able to capture images of the
novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2, previously known as 2019-nCoV) on its scanning
electron microscope and transmission electron microscopes. SARS-CoV-2 causes
COVID-19 disease which has resulted in a global pandemic.

This scanning electron microscope image shows SARS-CoV-2 emerging (the round
gold objects) from the surface of cells cultured in a lab. SARS-CoV-2 is the virus that
causes COVID-19. The virus shown was isolated from a patient in the United States.

This is a micrograph of SARS-CoV-2 virus particles that were isolated from a patient.
The image was captured under a transmission electron microscope and color-enhanced
at the NIAID Integrated Research Facility (IRF) in Fort Detrick, Maryland.
 

This is a transmission electron micrograph of SARS-CoV-2 virus particles, isolated from

a patient. The image was captured using a transmission electron microscope and color-
enhanced at the NIAID Integrated Research Facility (IRF) in Fort Detrick, Maryland.

This image captured with a scanning electron microscope shows SARS-CoV-2 (the
round magenta objects) emerging from the surface of cells cultured in the lab. SARS-
CoV-2 is the virus that causes COVID-19. The virus shown was isolated from a patient
in the United States.
 

This transmission electron microscope image shows SARS-CoV-2, the virus that
causes COVID-19 isolated from a patient in the United States. Virus particles are shown
emerging from the surface of cells cultured in the lab. The spikes on the outer edge of
the virus particles give coronaviruses their name, crown-like.

This scanning electron microscope image shows SARS-CoV-2 (in yellow), the virus that
causes COVID-19 isolated from a patient in the United States, emerging from the
surface of cells (blue and pink) cultured in the lab.
 

A transmission electron microscope was used to capture SARS-CoV-2 virus particles

isolated from a patient. The image was captured and color-enhanced at the NIAID
Integrated Research Facility (IRF) in Fort Detrick, Maryland.

This scanning electron microscope image shows SARS-CoV-2 (in yellow), also known
as 2019-nCoV, the virus that causes COVID-19 isolated from a patient in the United
States, emerging from the surface of cells (pink) cultured in the lab.
 

This is a transmission electron micrograph of SARS-CoV-2 virus particles, isolated from

a patient. The image was captured and color-enhanced at the NIAID Integrated
Research Facility (IRF) in Fort Detrick, Maryland.

This scanning electron microscope image shows SARS-CoV-2 (the round blue objects)
emerging from the surface of cells cultured in the lab. SARS-CoV-2 is the virus that
causes COVID-19. The virus shown was isolated from a patient in the United States.
 

This transmission electron microscope image shows SARS-CoV-2, the virus that
causes COVID-19 isolated from a patient in the United States. Virus particles are shown
emerging from the surface of cells cultured in the lab. The spikes on the outer edge of
the virus particles give coronaviruses their name, crown-like.

This scanning electron microscope image shows SARS-CoV-2 (in orange), the virus
that causes COVID-19 isolated from a patient in the United States emerging from the
surface of cells (green) cultured in the lab. Credit: NIAID-RML.
 

How Can I View COVID-19 Under the Microscope?

The novel Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) causes COVID-19 disease and can be viewed
under a scanning electron microscope or a transmission electron microscope. Viruses
can not be viewed under standard light compound microscopes.

What is a Scanning Electron Microscope?

A scanning electron microscope (SEM) scans a sample with a focused electron beam
and acquires images with information about the samples' topography and composition.
Scanning Electron Microscopes are widely used in nanotechnology, materials research,
life sciences, semiconductor, raw materials and industry.

This is the Zeiss EVO Scanning Electron microscope.