Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Atomic Force Microscopy01:08

Atomic Force Microscopy

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) is a type of scanning probe microscopy that can analyze topographic details of various specimens like ceramics, glass, polymers, and biological samples. AFM offers over 1000 times more resolution than the optical imaging system. Images generated from AFM are three-dimensional surface profiles, offering an advantage over the flat, two-dimensional images from other imaging techniques.
The AFM Probe
The probe is regarded as the heart of any AFM setup and comprises the...
Overview of Microscopy Techniques01:22

Overview of Microscopy Techniques

The early pioneers of microscopy opened a window into the invisible world of microorganisms. In 1830, Joseph Jackson Lister created an essentially modern light microscope. The 20th century saw the development of microscopes that leveraged nonvisible light, such as fluorescence microscopy that uses an ultraviolet light source and electron microscopy that uses short-wavelength electron beams. These advances significantly improved magnification, image resolution, and contrast. By comparison, the...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Erratum for Berry et al., "The <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> esterase FmtA is essential for wall teichoic acid D-alanylation".

mBio·2026
Same author

Author Correction: Membrane remodelling mediates lipopeptide-induced immunity in Arabidopsis.

Nature plants·2026
Same author

Membrane remodelling mediates lipopeptide-induced immunity in Arabidopsis.

Nature plants·2026
Same author

An anti-adhesive compound modulating the production of Staphylococcus aureus cell wall-anchored proteins.

Nature communications·2026
Same author

Nanoscale Mechanics of FnBPB-Mediated Adhesion of <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> to Skin Ligands.

ACS nano·2026
Same author

The <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> esterase FmtA is essential for wall teichoic acid D-alanylation.

mBio·2025

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 13, 2026

Atomic Force Microscopy Combined with Infrared Spectroscopy as a Tool to Probe Single Bacterium Chemistry
08:51

Atomic Force Microscopy Combined with Infrared Spectroscopy as a Tool to Probe Single Bacterium Chemistry

Published on: September 15, 2020

Nanoscale exploration of microbial surfaces using the atomic force microscope.

Yves F Dufrêne1

  • 1Université Catholique de Louvain, Unité de chimie des interfaces/Nanobio team, Croix du Sud 2/18, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium. dufrene@cifa.ucl.ac.be

Future Microbiology
|July 31, 2007
PubMed
Summary

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) provides high-resolution imaging and force measurements of microbial surfaces in their natural state. This technique reveals insights into microbial architecture, protein behavior, and interaction forces at the nanoscale.

More Related Videos

Contact Mode Atomic Force Microscopy as a Rapid Technique for Morphological Observation and Bacterial Cell Damage Analysis
05:34

Contact Mode Atomic Force Microscopy as a Rapid Technique for Morphological Observation and Bacterial Cell Damage Analysis

Published on: June 30, 2023

Atomic Force Microscopy of Red-Light Photoreceptors Using PeakForce Quantitative Nanomechanical Property Mapping
14:13

Atomic Force Microscopy of Red-Light Photoreceptors Using PeakForce Quantitative Nanomechanical Property Mapping

Published on: October 24, 2014

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 13, 2026

Atomic Force Microscopy Combined with Infrared Spectroscopy as a Tool to Probe Single Bacterium Chemistry
08:51

Atomic Force Microscopy Combined with Infrared Spectroscopy as a Tool to Probe Single Bacterium Chemistry

Published on: September 15, 2020

Contact Mode Atomic Force Microscopy as a Rapid Technique for Morphological Observation and Bacterial Cell Damage Analysis
05:34

Contact Mode Atomic Force Microscopy as a Rapid Technique for Morphological Observation and Bacterial Cell Damage Analysis

Published on: June 30, 2023

Atomic Force Microscopy of Red-Light Photoreceptors Using PeakForce Quantitative Nanomechanical Property Mapping
14:13

Atomic Force Microscopy of Red-Light Photoreceptors Using PeakForce Quantitative Nanomechanical Property Mapping

Published on: October 24, 2014

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Biophysics
  • Nanotechnology

Background:

  • Atomic force microscopy (AFM) offers novel capabilities for studying microbial surfaces.
  • It allows for high-resolution imaging and manipulation in physiological conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the applications of AFM in microbial surface analysis.
  • To highlight AFM's role in understanding microbial interactions and responses.

Main Methods:

  • AFM imaging for visualizing surface structures.
  • AFM force spectroscopy for probing molecular and mechanical properties.

Main Results:

  • AFM enables nanoscale analysis of microbial surface architecture changes during growth or antibiotic interaction.
  • It quantifies forces involved in membrane protein unfolding and cell interactions.
  • Molecular forces driving pathogen-host or pathogen-biomaterial interactions can be elucidated.

Conclusions:

  • AFM is a powerful tool for detailed nanoscale investigations of microbial surfaces.
  • It addresses previously challenging questions regarding microbial dynamics and interactions.