Course Overview

Cryo-EM combined with image processing is currently undergoing what has been referred to as a “resolution revolution”, making it one of the most powerful techniques to address this challenge. It also has unique capabilities to obtain structural information in situ within complex environments, and to deal with heterogeneous samples. The methods are complex and under constant development, so in depth, advanced training of users is essential to ensure future users can adapt new technologies to expand into new areas and solve new biological problems. This course provides the theoretical and practical training covering the full breadth of cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) techniques in order develop novel image processing approaches.

Audience

The course is aimed at PhD students and PostDocs who already have experience in cryo-EM and who wish to learn cryo-EM image processing theory and practice with the aim of applying and developing these techniques.

Modules/Resources

• Single particle reconstruction (Imagic, cisTEM, Relion, SPHIRE, cryoSPARCS)
• Subtomogram averaging (Dynamo)
• Single particle helical reconstruction (Spring)
• Atomic model interpretation (Phenix, Refmac and Chimera)
• EM databank

Learning Outcomes

After this course, students should have learned advanced topics of cryo-EM data collection and image processing and be able to apply and adapt these techniques for challenging research projects.