The Basque Country boasts the most advanced electronic cryo-microscope in the world

• The President of the Basque Government and the Minister of Education paid a visit to the Biophysika Bizkaia research centre and the new electronic cryo-microscope it is housing.
• The new scientific site located in the public university grounds, with an investment of 5.5 million euros, will put the Basque Country firmly on the European map in the field of structural biology and will attract research staff from all over the globe.
• State-of-the-art cryo-microscopes enable the biological world to be deciphered at an atomic scale, enabling the development of drugs and new treatments for neurodegenerative diseases and different types of cancer, as well as new vaccines.
• The new infrastructure is part of the Ikur 2030 Strategy for the development of neurosciences, quantum technologies, neutrionics and supercomputing and artificial intelligence.

President of the Basque Country, Iñigo Urkullu, along with the Minister of Education Jokin Bildarratz, visited the BERC Biophysika Bizkaia Centre for Basic Research and Excellence, located in the UPV/EHU Science Park this morning. Accompanied by the scientific director of Biofosika Bizkaia, Iban Ubarretxena, they got to see the features of the high-resolution scientific infrastructure, which the Department of Education has invested 5.5 million euros in. It is currently the most advanced high-resolution electronic cryo-microscope model and the only one of its kind in southern Europe (including France).

The director of UPV/EHU, Eva Ferreira, the vice-minister of Universities and Research, Adolfo Morais, the commissioner for Science, Technology and Innovation, Cristina Uriarte, and the director of research from the Department of Education, Amaia Esquisabel, all participated in the event.

Purchasing this new equipment has allowed the Basque Country to take a giant leap to become one of the European leaders in the field of structural biology. This new infrastructure will also be key to attracting new research talent to the Basque Country and internationally recognised researchers in this field.

Next-generation electronic cryocroscopy (cryo-EM) is currently having a huge impact on biosciences and biotechnology and is really revolutionising structural biology worldwide. The number of biological structures resolved by cryo-EM is really increasing at a quasi-exponential rate right now. This technology allows the structure of proteins, viruses, cells and tissues to be observed at an unprecedented resolution, leading to the development of new therapeutic strategies against neurodegenerative diseases, different types of cancer, and obtaining vaccines and treatments to deal with epidemics and pandemics, including SARS-CoV-2. A next-generation cryo-microscope is the magnifying glass that allows the biological world to be deciphered on an atomic scale.

The ThermoFisher Titan Kios G4 cryo-microscope is the first major infrastructure acquired by the Basque Government under the Ikur 2030 Strategy, launched by the Department of Education in the field of excellence research. This strategy is strongly committed to four strategic areas of research for the coming years: neuroscience; quantum technologies; neutrionics; and supercomputing and artificial intelligence.

The Biophysika Bizkaia research centre located in the UPV/EHU Science Park in Leioa acquired the electronic cryo-microscope at the end of September. Its installation is currently in its final stage (lasting an average of between 3 and 5 months) and is expected to be up and running by the end of this month.

Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, cancer and vaccines

This technology enables the molecular structures of proteins, nucleic acids (such as DNA and RNA), carbohydrates and lipids from which life-supporting cells and tissues are built to be observed at an atomic resolution and in a physiological environment. In other words, it allows us to understand how life works at a molecular level and, from a biomedical perspective, to understand the mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of diseases

The state-of-the-art Titan Koros G4 cryo-microscope will be therefore used to decipher the structural bases of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, different types of cancer and metabolic disorders such as cholesterolemia and diabetes. It will also be used for the development of drugs and new therapies against these diseases.

This new infrastructure will also give the Basque Country the capacity to contribute to the development of vaccines against infectious diseases and to be able to effectively combat epidemics and pandemics. Cryo-microscopy has actually been fundamental for understanding the mechanisms of human cell infection by SARS-CoV-2, where this technology has supported and accelerated vaccine design and the development of treatments against COVID-19.

With this commitment to electronic cryo-microscopy, the Basque Country is rolling up its sleeves in its effort to combat future epidemics and pandemics.

Attracting research staff to the Basque Country

With the acquisition and installation of a next-generation cryo-microscope such as the one that is now starting to operate at the Biophysika Institute – the only one with these features in southern Europe and the most advanced model in the world – the Basque Country is taking a giant leap toward becoming a European leader in the field of structural biology.

In addition to retaining current researchers working in this field at the Basque Science, Technology and Innovation Network (RVCTI) research sites, the new infrastructure will allow the Basque Country to attract new international research talent in the areas that this technique is being applied, from physics to biomedicine.

This new equipment will also be accessible to the rest of the Basque Country researchers, research groups working in this field, belonging to other BERCs (Basque Excellence Research Centre), CICs (Cooperative Research Centres), universities, health research centres, and technology and innovation centres, as well as the companies in the sector. The incorporation of this new technology will have a transformative impact on the RVCTI [Basque Centre of Science, Technology and Innovation], and will boost the Basque Country’s technological development in biosciences and biomedicine as part of the RIS3 Euskadi 2030 strategy.

Observing at an atomic scale

• The President of the Basque Government and the Minister of Education paid a visit to the Biophysika Bizkaia research centre and the new electronic cryo-microscope it is housing.
• The new scientific site located in the public university grounds, with an investment of 5.5 million euros, will put the Basque Country firmly on the European map in the field of structural biology and will attract research staff from all over the globe.
• State-of-the-art cryo-microscopes enable the biological world to be deciphered at an atomic scale, enabling the development of drugs and new treatments for neurodegenerative diseases and different types of cancer, as well as new vaccines.
• The new infrastructure is part of the Ikur 2030 Strategy for the development of neurosciences, quantum technologies, neutrionics and supercomputing and artificial intelligence.

President of the Basque Country, Iñigo Urkullu, along with the Minister of Education Jokin Bildarratz, visited the BERC Biophysika Bizkaia Centre for Basic Research and Excellence, located in the UPV/EHU Science Park this morning. Accompanied by the scientific director of Biofosika Bizkaia, Iban Ubarretxena, they got to see the features of the high-resolution scientific infrastructure, which the Department of Education has invested 5.5 million euros in. It is currently the most advanced high-resolution electronic cryo-microscope model and the only one of its kind in southern Europe (including France).

The director of UPV/EHU, Eva Ferreira, the vice-minister of Universities and Research, Adolfo Morais, the commissioner for Science, Technology and Innovation, Cristina Uriarte, and the director of research from the Department of Education, Amaia Esquisabel, all participated in the event.

Purchasing this new equipment has allowed the Basque Country to take a giant leap to become one of the European leaders in the field of structural biology. This new infrastructure will also be key to attracting new research talent to the Basque Country and internationally recognised researchers in this field.

Next-generation electronic cryocroscopy (cryo-EM) is currently having a huge impact on biosciences and biotechnology and is really revolutionising structural biology worldwide. The number of biological structures resolved by cryo-EM is really increasing at a quasi-exponential rate right now. This technology allows the structure of proteins, viruses, cells and tissues to be observed at an unprecedented resolution, leading to the development of new therapeutic strategies against neurodegenerative diseases, different types of cancer, and obtaining vaccines and treatments to deal with epidemics and pandemics, including SARS-CoV-2. A next-generation cryo-microscope is the magnifying glass that allows the biological world to be deciphered on an atomic scale.

The ThermoFisher Titan Kios G4 cryo-microscope is the first major infrastructure acquired by the Basque Government under the Ikur 2030 Strategy, launched by the Department of Education in the field of excellence research. This strategy is strongly committed to four strategic areas of research for the coming years: neuroscience; quantum technologies; neutrionics; and supercomputing and artificial intelligence.

The Biophysika Bizkaia research centre located in the UPV/EHU Science Park in Leioa acquired the electronic cryo-microscope at the end of September. Its installation is currently in its final stage (lasting an average of between 3 and 5 months) and is expected to be up and running by the end of this month.

Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, cancer and vaccines

This technology enables the molecular structures of proteins, nucleic acids (such as DNA and RNA), carbohydrates and lipids from which life-supporting cells and tissues are built to be observed at an atomic resolution and in a physiological environment. In other words, it allows us to understand how life works at a molecular level and, from a biomedical perspective, to understand the mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of diseases

The state-of-the-art Titan Koros G4 cryo-microscope will be therefore used to decipher the structural bases of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, different types of cancer and metabolic disorders such as cholesterolemia and diabetes. It will also be used for the development of drugs and new therapies against these diseases.

This new infrastructure will also give the Basque Country the capacity to contribute to the development of vaccines against infectious diseases and to be able to effectively combat epidemics and pandemics. Cryo-microscopy has actually been fundamental for understanding the mechanisms of human cell infection by SARS-CoV-2, where this technology has supported and accelerated vaccine design and the development of treatments against COVID-19.

With this commitment to electronic cryo-microscopy, the Basque Country is rolling up its sleeves in its effort to combat future epidemics and pandemics.

Attracting research staff to the Basque Country

With the acquisition and installation of a next-generation cryo-microscope such as the one that is now starting to operate at the Biophysika Institute – the only one with these features in southern Europe and the most advanced model in the world – the Basque Country is taking a giant leap toward becoming a European leader in the field of structural biology.

In addition to retaining current researchers working in this field at the Basque Science, Technology and Innovation Network (RVCTI) research sites, the new infrastructure will allow the Basque Country to attract new international research talent in the areas that this technique is being applied, from physics to biomedicine.

This new equipment will also be accessible to the rest of the Basque Country researchers, research groups working in this field, belonging to other BERCs (Basque Excellence Research Centre), CICs (Cooperative Research Centres), universities, health research centres, and technology and innovation centres, as well as the companies in the sector. The incorporation of this new technology will have a transformative impact on the RVCTI [Basque Centre of Science, Technology and Innovation], and will boost the Basque Country’s technological development in biosciences and biomedicine as part of the RIS3 Euskadi 2030 strategy.

Observing at an atomic scale

To understand how this technology is revolutionising the field of structural biology, it is important to underline how this equipment enables us to “see” up to the Angstrom scale or atomic scale (i.e., one ten billionth of a metre, far beyond micra and nano scales.

Dividing a millimetre by a thousand gives us the scale of the micron (i.e., the equivalent of dividing a metre one million times) and we can see cells. However, we must divide one micron another one thousand times until we reach the nanometre to enter inside one of them. While we will not yet be able to understand biochemistry, at this nano scale we will be able to understand the organisation of the cell and some of its underlying structures,. This involves being able to resolve atoms and descend to the Angstrom scale, or divide a nanometer by ten, which is the same thing. This is only possible with the state-of-the-art electronic cryo-microscopes.

Unlike other techniques, these macromolecules do not need to be crystalised in the cryo-microscopy to reach these structures and fabrics, and just need to be left in aqueous solution and to be quickly cryogenised at temperatures below -180 degrees celsius, to form vitreous ice. This is a huge benefit. Cryogenic samples are introduced into the electronic cryoposcope and are capable of allowing us to observe frozen macromolecules at atomic resolution.

The best example of this is the SARS-CoV-2 image that has so popularised in the last two years: a sphere surrounded by “thorns” forming a “crown”. The scientific community was able to view this image thanks to electronic cryo-microscopes such as the one that has been installed at the BERC Biophysika Bizkaia.

Fitting out spaces

Electronic cryo-microscopes such as the Titan Koros G4 are very sensitive to vibrations, temperature changes and electromagnetic field interference, thus involving a sophisticated installation in Leion, necessary from a construction engineering viewpoint. In addition to securing the foundation that the equipment rests to prevent any vibrations, the room housing the cryo-microscope has also been designed for even higher performance than those in an operating room or a white room. Two additional rooms have also had to be renovated to accommodate auxiliary equipment and the cryo-microscope control room.

To understand how this technology is revolutionising the field of structural biology, it is important to underline how this equipment enables us to “see” up to the Angstrom scale or atomic scale (i.e., one ten billionth of a metre, far beyond micra and nano scales.

Dividing a millimetre by a thousand gives us the scale of the micron (i.e., the equivalent of dividing a metre one million times) and we can see cells. However, we must divide one micron another one thousand times until we reach the nanometre to enter inside one of them. While we will not yet be able to understand biochemistry, at this nano scale we will be able to understand the organisation of the cell and some of its underlying structures,. This involves being able to resolve atoms and descend to the Angstrom scale, or divide a nanometer by ten, which is the same thing. This is only possible with the state-of-the-art electronic cryo-microscopes.

Unlike other techniques, these macromolecules do not need to be crystalised in the cryo-microscopy to reach these structures and fabrics, and just need to be left in aqueous solution and to be quickly cryogenised at temperatures below -180 degrees celsius, to form vitreous ice. This is a huge benefit. Cryogenic samples are introduced into the electronic cryoposcope and are capable of allowing us to observe frozen macromolecules at atomic resolution.

The best example of this is the SARS-CoV-2 image that has so popularised in the last two years: a sphere surrounded by “thorns” forming a “crown”. The scientific community was able to view this image thanks to electronic cryo-microscopes such as the one that has been installed at the BERC Biophysika Bizkaia.

Fitting out spaces

Electronic cryo-microscopes such as the Titan Koros G4 are very sensitive to vibrations, temperature changes and electromagnetic field interference, thus involving a sophisticated installation in Leion, necessary from a construction engineering viewpoint. In addition to securing the foundation that the equipment rests to prevent any vibrations, the room housing the cryo-microscope has also been designed for even higher performance than those in an operating room or a white room. Two additional rooms have also had to be renovated to accommodate auxiliary equipment and the cryo-microscope control room.