Russian Journal of Infection and ImmunityRussian Journal of Infection and ImmunityИнфекция и иммунитет2220-76192313-7398SPb RAACI1791710.15789/2220-7619-ITF-17917REVIEWSОБЗОРЫReview ArticleImaging techniques for studying virus–cell interactions: a review of current methods and challengesМетоды визуализации для изучения взаимодействий вирус–клетка: обзор современных методов и проблемSinghS.СингхС.
India

MD, Professor, Department of Microbiology, TMMC&RC

профессор кафедры микробиологии, Медицинский колледж и исследовательский центр

jainsanjeevkumar77@gmail.comJainSanjeev KumarДжайнСанджив Кумар
India

Department of Anatomy, TMMC&RC

Кафедра анатомии, Медицинский колледж и исследовательский центр

jainsanjeevkumar77@gmail.comSharmaS.ШармаС.
India

PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Anatomy, TMMC&RC

доцент кафедры анатомии, Медицинский колледж и исследовательский центр

jainsanjeevkumar77@gmail.comVasundharaVasundharaВасундхараВасундхара
India

MD, Professor, Department of Microbiology, TMMC&RC

профессор кафедры микробиологии, Медицинский колледж и исследовательский центр

jainsanjeevkumar77@gmail.comTeerthanker Mahaveer UniversityУниверситет Тиртханкер Махавир1006202506112025154Russian Journal of Infection and ImmunityИнфекция и иммунитет6356481404202502062025Copyright ©; 2025, Singh S., Jain S., Sharma S., Vasundhara D.Copyright ©; 2025, Сингх С., Джайн С., Шарма С., Васундхара Д.2025Singh S., Jain S., Sharma S., Vasundhara D.Сингх С., Джайн С., Шарма С., Васундхара Д.https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0https://iimmun.ru/iimm/article/view/17917

Knowledge of virus-host cell interactions is central to the formulation of antiviral therapies and vaccines. Because of their nanoscale size and dynamic nature, viruses are inherently difficult objects to investigate. Virus characterization, such as imaging viral structures, intracellular viral trafficking, and infection molecular mechanisms, has relied heavily on sophisticated imaging approaches. Classical light microscopy imaging, such as fluorescence and super-resolution microscopy, provides information on viral entry, replication, and protein localization within living cells. Electron microscopy (EM) techniques, such as Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and Cryo-Electron Microscopy (Cryo-EM), provide high-resolution structural information on the viruses and their replication compartments. Advances in correlative imaging techniques, which include light and electron microscopy, have improved our ability to study virus-induced cellular changes in three dimensions. But in comparison to the earlier developments, it remains challenging in virus imaging: a compromise between resolution and sample preparation, restrictions in labeling methods, the challenge in imaging rapid virus-host interactions, and biosafety limitations for highly pathogenic viruses. Solutions to these types of issues will be provided with the newer techniques such as AI-powered imaging analysis, nanotechnology-based imaging probes, and cryo-electron tomography. This review covers the present imaging methods in virology, their utilities and limitations, as well as future prospects, with an emphasis on microscopy to discern the interaction of viruses with cells electron microscopy.

Знание взаимодействия вируса и клетки-хозяина имеет решающее значение для разработки противовирусной терапии и вакцин. Из-за своего наномасштабного размера и динамической природы вирусы являются сложными объектами для исследования. Характеризация вирусов при помощи визуализация вирусных структур, внутриклеточного вирусного трафика и молекулярных механизмов инфекции, в значительной степени опиралась на сложные технологические подходы. Классическая световая микроскопия, такая как флуоресцентная микроскопия и микроскопия сверхвысокого разрешения, предоставляет информацию о проникновении вируса, репликации и локализации белка в живых клетках. Методы электронной микроскопии (ЭМ), такие как просвечивающая электронная микроскопия (ПЭМ), сканирующая электронная микроскопия (СЭМ) и криоэлектронная микроскопия (крио-ЭМ), предоставляют структурные данные высокого разрешения о вирусах и их репликационных компартментах. Достижения в области корреляционных методов визуализации, которые включают световую и электронную микроскопию, улучшили возможность изучать вызванные вирусом клеточные изменения в трех измерениях. Но по сравнению с более ранними разработками, визуализация вирусов остается сложной из-за компромисса между разрешением и подготовкой образцов, ограничений в методах маркировки, проблемы визуализации быстрых взаимодействий вируса с хозяином и ограничения биологической безопасности для высокопатогенных вирусов [9]. Решения таких проблем будут предоставлены с помощью новых методов, таких как анализ изображений на основе ИИ, зондов для визуализации на основе нанотехнологий и криоэлектронной томографии. В настоящем обзоре рассматриваются современные методы визуализации в вирусологии, их применимость и ограничения, а также будущие перспективы с акцентом на микроскопию для распознавания взаимодействия вирусов с клетками [50].

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