<HTML><BODY style="word-wrap: break-word; -khtml-nbsp-mode: space; -khtml-line-break: after-white-space; ">Dear Colleagues, <DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV>I am trying to formulate a policy for a new 200 keV FEG cryo TEM we are installing, with regards to what should and should not be permitted in the column. The instrument is intended primarily for cryo and 3D reconstruction by both single particle and tomographic methods.</DIV><DIV>I have canvassed several opinions, particularly with regards to resin sections, and received a very polarised response. Many have indicated that they do not believe there is any danger of increasing contamination, while others are equally adamant that cryo-instruments should be used for that purpose only.</DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV>Does anyone have any concrete evidence in support of one or other viewpoint?</DIV><DIV>It seems that opinions on this are firmly held, it would be good to know if someone has conducted an in-depth investigation.</DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV>Many thanks,</DIV><DIV>D.</DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV><BR><DIV> <SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: auto; -khtml-text-decorations-in-effect: none; text-indent: 0px; -apple-text-size-adjust: auto; text-transform: none; orphans: 2; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: auto; -khtml-text-decorations-in-effect: none; text-indent: 0px; -apple-text-size-adjust: auto; text-transform: none; orphans: 2; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: auto; -khtml-text-decorations-in-effect: none; text-indent: 0px; -apple-text-size-adjust: auto; text-transform: none; orphans: 2; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; "><P style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px"><FONT face="Helvetica" size="3" style="font: 12.0px Helvetica">Dr David Bhella</FONT></P><P style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px"><FONT face="Helvetica" size="3" style="font: 12.0px Helvetica">MRC Virology Unit</FONT></P><P style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px"><FONT face="Helvetica" size="3" style="font: 12.0px Helvetica">Church Street</FONT></P><P style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px"><FONT face="Helvetica" size="3" style="font: 12.0px Helvetica">Glasgow</FONT></P><P style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px"><FONT face="Helvetica" size="3" style="font: 12.0px Helvetica">G11 5JR</FONT></P><P style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><BR></P><P style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px"><FONT face="Helvetica" size="3" style="font: 12.0px Helvetica">Telephone:<SPAN class="Apple-converted-space"> <SPAN class="Apple-converted-space"> </SPAN></SPAN>0141-330-3685</FONT></P><P style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px"><FONT face="Helvetica" size="3" style="font: 12.0px Helvetica">Graphics lab:<SPAN class="Apple-converted-space"> <SPAN class="Apple-converted-space"> </SPAN></SPAN>0141-330-2989</FONT></P><P style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px"><FONT face="Helvetica" size="3" style="font: 12.0px Helvetica">Mobile:<SPAN class="Apple-converted-space"> <SPAN class="Apple-converted-space"> </SPAN></SPAN>07717-202439</FONT></P><P style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px"><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></P><P style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px"><FONT face="Helvetica" size="3" style="font: 12.0px Helvetica">Virus Structure Web Site:</FONT></P><P style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px"><FONT face="Helvetica" size="3" style="font: 12.0px Helvetica"><A href="http://www.mrcvu.gla.ac.uk/research/bhellad/virus_structure.htm">http://www.mrcvu.gla.ac.uk/research/bhellad/virus_structure.htm</A></FONT></P><P style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px"><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></P><P style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px">Molecular Machines - Images from Virus Research (Art Exhibition):</P><P style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px"><A href="http://www.molecularmachines.org.uk">http://www.molecularmachines.org.uk</A></P><P style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px"><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></P><P style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px"><FONT face="Helvetica" size="3" style="font: 12.0px Helvetica">Departmental Web Site:</FONT></P><P style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px"><FONT face="Helvetica" size="3" style="font: 12.0px Helvetica"><A href="http://www.mrcvu.gla.ac.uk/staff/bhellad.html">http://www.mrcvu.gla.ac.uk/staff/bhellad.html</A></FONT></P><BR class="Apple-interchange-newline"></SPAN></SPAN></SPAN> </DIV><BR></DIV></BODY></HTML>