Microbial adhesion and ultrastructure from the single-molecule to the single-cell levels by Atomic Force Microscopy

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Biophysics
• Surface Science

Background:

• Atomic force microscopy (AFM) has become a key technique for analyzing living cells under physiological conditions.
• AFM enables detailed study of cell surface morphology and molecular interactions at various scales.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review AFM-based methods for microbial surface analysis.
• To illustrate how AFM elucidates molecular mechanisms in microbiology.

Main Methods:

• AFM imaging for morphological analysis.
• Single-molecule force spectroscopy (SMFS) for molecular interactions.
• Single-cell force spectroscopy (SCFS) for cellular properties.

Main Results:

• AFM provides high-resolution insights into microbial surface properties.
• Direct links between molecular structures and their functions are established.
• Unprecedented resolution achieved in unraveling molecular mechanisms.

Conclusions:

• AFM is an indispensable tool for advanced microbial surface studies.
• AFM facilitates a deeper understanding of molecular mechanisms in microbiology.
• The review highlights the versatility and power of AFM in biological research.