Empowering Cryo-EM workflows with AI and CryoFlow

Industrial Workshop by Thermo Fisher Scientific

Empowering Cryo-EM workflows with AI and CryoFlow

Smart EPU and Tomography 5 / Tomo Live represent cutting-edge advancements in electron microscopy, incorporating AI-driven capabilities to enhance Single Particle Analysis (SPA) and electron tomography workflows, respectively.

Smart EPU utilizes advanced machine learning algorithms to facilitate routine tasks such as the selection and classification of squares and foil holes in cryo-EM grids. Using predefined criteria, the best areas for acquisition can be determined, and robust automated imaging, on-the-fly particle selection, 2D alignment, and 3D density map reconstruction can be performed in a fully automated manner for comprehensive sample screening and increased output of high-resolution structures.

Tomography 5 / Tomo Live are used for tomography workflows. Tomography 5 assists the user in setting up tomography runs, including performing beam shifts with predictive tracking for multi-shot tomogram acquisition within a single tilt sequence. During acquisition, Tomo Live automatically handles motion correction of acquired frames, alignment of tilt series, and real-time reconstruction using SIRT for enhanced productivity, intuitive data quality assessment, and faster visualization.

These enhanced capabilities for SPA and tomography are enabled by CryoFlow, an integration platform common to both workflows. Results are displayed in a web-based platform for increased accessibility, enabling users to efficiently review acquired data and analyze a variety of quality metrics, such as CTF confidence range, alignment accuracy, and astigmatism, among others.

Together, these AI-powered tools significantly enhance the field of electron microscopy, offering researchers effective solutions for detailed structural analyses at the molecular level.