Spectroscopic Imaging of Single Microbial Cells in Complex Samples

What is it about?

The spectroscopic imaging of undisturbed biological systems presents several unique methodological challenges. In this Mini Review, we discuss recent advances in the imaging of complex sample types using Raman and Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) microspectroscopy, with a focus on single-cell analyses.

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Why is it important?

Additionally to discussing applications of Raman and FT-IR techniques for single-cell imaging, we provide suggestions for how novel spectroscopic methods could be used to advance our ability to work with complex biological samples. In particular, we discuss how these methods could be applied in the context of microbial ecology, where there is often a need for non-invasive analytical approaches.