Resolving viral structural complexity by super-resolution microscopy.

In this review, we discuss different super-resolution microscopy (SRM) techniques employed to study viral structures and virus composition with nanometric resolution. We describe the basic principles of the different microscopy methods utilized to break the light diffraction limit, enabling the study of protein composition in viral structures. Finally, we demonstrate for the first time the differential spatial distribution of two structural proteins in an individual baculovirus using single-molecule super-resolution microscopy. We discuss the future of these powerful methods for virology, medicine, and biotechnology applications.