Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Atomic Force Microscopy

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...

Microbial Morphologies

Microbial Morphologies

Bacterial and archaeal cells exhibit remarkable diversity in shape and structure, critical in their adaptability and functionality. Among bacteria, the most commonly observed shapes include cocci and bacilli. Cocci are spherical and may exist singly or in groupings such as pairs (diplococci), chains (streptococci), clusters (staphylococci), or tetrads. Bacilli, in contrast, are rod-shaped and can also occur as single cells, in pairs, or chains, depending on their environmental and genetic...

Three-Dimensional Microscopy in Microbiology

Three-Dimensional Microscopy in Microbiology

Three-dimensional imaging techniques are essential in cell biology, allowing researchers to visualize intricate cellular structures with high resolution. Two prominent methods, Differential Interference Contrast Microscopy (DIC) and Confocal Scanning Laser Microscopy (CSLM), provide distinct advantages for imaging live and thick specimens, respectively.Differential Interference Contrast MicroscopyDIC microscopy enhances contrast in transparent, unstained samples by converting phase...

Two-Dimensional Microscopy in Microbiology

Two-Dimensional Microscopy in Microbiology

Two-dimensional (2D) microscopy encompasses a range of optical techniques that capture images within a single focal plane, offering detailed representations of microscopic structures. These techniques are essential in biological and medical research, enabling the visualization of cellular and subcellular structures with different levels of contrast and specificity.There are several major types of 2D microscopy, each with strengths and applications.Bright-Field MicroscopyBright-field microscopy...

Overview of Microscopy Techniques

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...

Super-resolution Fluorescence Microscopy

Super-resolution Fluorescence Microscopy

Super-resolution fluorescence microscopy (SRFM) provides a better resolution than conventional fluorescence microscopy by reducing the point spread function (PSF). PSF is the light intensity distribution from a point that causes it to appear blurred. Due to PSF, each fluorescing point appears bigger than its actual size, and it is the PSF interference of nearby fluorophores that causes the blurred image. Various approaches to achieving higher resolution through SRFM have recently been developed.

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

Comparable outcomes following combined ACL and ALL reconstruction using a 1-strand versus 2-strand back-and-forth technique: Propensity score matched study.

Journal of experimental orthopaedics·2026

Same author

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

ACS nano·2026

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 10, 2026

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

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

Published on: June 30, 2023

Microbial nanoscopy: a closer look at microbial cell surfaces.

Vincent Dupres¹, David Alsteens, Guillaume Andre

¹Institute of Condensed Matter and Nanosciences, Université Catholique de Louvain, Croix du Sud 2/18, B-1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium.

Trends in Microbiology

|July 16, 2010

Summary

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) reveals the nanoscale organization and interactions of microbial cell envelopes. This advanced bioimaging tool quantifies surface architecture, chemical properties, and mechanical forces at the molecular level.

More Related Videos

Microfluidic Tools for Probing Fungal-Microbial Interactions at the Cellular Level

Microfluidic Tools for Probing Fungal-Microbial Interactions at the Cellular Level

Published on: June 23, 2022

Automation of Bio-Atomic Force Microscope Measurements on Hundreds of C. albicans Cells

Automation of Bio-Atomic Force Microscope Measurements on Hundreds of C. albicans Cells

Published on: April 2, 2021

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 10, 2026

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

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

Published on: June 30, 2023

Microfluidic Tools for Probing Fungal-Microbial Interactions at the Cellular Level

Microfluidic Tools for Probing Fungal-Microbial Interactions at the Cellular Level

Published on: June 23, 2022

Automation of Bio-Atomic Force Microscope Measurements on Hundreds of C. albicans Cells

Automation of Bio-Atomic Force Microscope Measurements on Hundreds of C. albicans Cells

Published on: April 2, 2021

Area of Science:

Microbiology
Biophysics
Nanotechnology

Background:

Understanding microbial cell envelope organization and environmental interactions is crucial.
Traditional bioimaging methods have limitations in resolving nanoscale details of living cells.
Atomic force microscopy (AFM) offers unique capabilities for high-resolution surface analysis.

Purpose of the Study:

To highlight advances in using AFM for microbial cell studies.
To showcase AFM's ability to probe molecular interactions and mechanical properties.
To demonstrate AFM's utility in understanding cell envelope architecture.

Main Methods:

Utilizing atomic force microscopy (AFM) for nanoscale imaging of microbial surfaces.
Employing AFM's molecular toolbox for force probing and molecular interaction analysis.
Applying AFM for real-time imaging and quantification of subcellular components.

Main Results:

Real-time imaging of nanoscale cell wall organization achieved.
Quantification of subcellular chemical heterogeneities demonstrated.
Mapping and functional analysis of individual cell wall constituents performed.
Mechanical properties of single receptors and sensors analyzed.

Conclusions:

AFM is a powerful tool for dissecting microbial cell envelope structure and function.
AFM provides unprecedented insights into the nanoscale organization and interactions of microbial cells.
Recent advancements enable detailed analysis of molecular components and their mechanical behavior.