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Imaging the surface of Staphylococcus aureus by atomic force microscopy.

T Tollersrud1, T Berge, S R Andersen

  • 1National Veterinary Institute, 0033 Oslo Dep., Norway. tore.tollersrud@vetinst.no

APMIS : Acta Pathologica, Microbiologica, Et Immunologica Scandinavica
|September 13, 2001
PubMed
Summary

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) effectively visualizes Staphylococcus aureus surface characteristics. Different capsule types and capsule-negative strains show distinct surface textures, aiding in bacterial identification.

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Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Biophysics
  • Surface Science

Background:

  • Staphylococcus aureus possesses diverse surface structures, including capsular polysaccharides, which influence its pathogenicity.
  • Understanding these surface characteristics is crucial for bacterial identification and therapeutic strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the utility of atomic force microscopy (AFM) for characterizing the surface topography of Staphylococcus aureus strains with varying capsular polysaccharide expression.
  • To differentiate between strains based on their surface morphology as visualized by AFM.

Main Methods:

  • Four Staphylococcus aureus strains (Smith Diffuse - serotype 2, Reynolds - serotype 5, Wood-46 - capsule negative, JL243 - capsule negative) were cultured to promote capsule expression.
  • Tapping-mode AFM was employed to image the air-dried bacterial surfaces.

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  • Surface characteristics were analyzed and compared across the different strains.

    • Main Results:

    • AFM successfully provided detailed information on the surface features of Staphylococcus aureus.
    • Capsule-negative strains exhibited smooth, regular surfaces.
    • Encapsulated strains displayed a mucoid surface appearance.
    • Distinct morphological differences were observed between serotype 2 and serotype 5 capsules, suggesting AFM can differentiate between capsule types.

    Conclusions:

    • Atomic force microscopy is a valuable tool for analyzing Staphylococcus aureus surface topography.
    • AFM can distinguish between encapsulated and non-encapsulated strains, as well as differentiate between specific capsular polysaccharide types (e.g., type 2 vs. type 5).
    • This technique offers a simple yet effective method for bacterial surface characterization.