key: cord-0793879-yboipqvh
authors: Giannico, Giovanna A.; Miller, Sara E.
title: Electron Microscopy Identification of SARS-COV-2: What is the Evidence?
date: 2021-04-20
journal: Cardiovasc Pathol
DOI: 10.1016/j.carpath.2021.107338
sha: 7d05f9d24c0b1f680d8085593a37332515e59c50
doc_id: 793879
cord_uid: yboipqvh

nan

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None To the Editor: Buja et al. review autopsy studies from COVID-19 decedents performed early in the pandemic and include their institutional experience of three autopsy cases (1) . This publication's electron microscopic images purportedly describe "viral particles within a vacuole in a renal glomerular endothelial cell" (Fig. 12B ) and a "100-nanometer viral particle with nucleocapsid and membrane spike proteins free in the cytoplasm of a renal glomerular endothelial cell" (Fig 12C) . However, Fig 12B shows In Figure 12C In summary, diagnostic EM represents a powerful and valuable tool for identification of viral structures. However, careful consideration should be given to viral biology and morphogenesis, artifacts of delayed postmortem fixation, lack of detection due to possible viral clearing, and sensitivity of the methodology. A collaborative effort amongst pathologists, microbiologists and electron microscopists trained in recognizing viral structures is paramount to further our current understanding of SARS-COV-2 biology.

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