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Updated: Jun 12, 2026

Atomic Force Microscopy Combined with Infrared Spectroscopy as a Tool to Probe Single Bacterium Chemistry
Published on: September 15, 2020
Vibrational and electronic characterisation of Staphylococcus aureus wall teichoic acids and relevant components in
Florian Latteyer1, Heiko Peisert, Nadine Göhring
1Institute for Physical and Theoretical Chemistry, Auf der Morgenstelle 18, 72076 Tübingen, Germany. florian.latteyer@uni-tuebingen.de
Abstract:
This work reports an investigation of S. aureus wall teichoic acid (WTA) and compares this biopolymer with its major occurring components, D: -alanine and glycerol phosphate. Detailed insight into molecular structures and electronic properties is obtained by vibrational and photoemission spectroscopy. Calculations are performed to support the analysis of our experimental vibrational spectra. It is shown that there are contributions of positive and negative charges in WTAs, but the number of negative charges is expected to be higher. The presence of both positive and negative charges on WTA may offer a route for modification of surfaces with the objective of avoiding the formation of biofilms.
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