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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...

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Updated: Dec 9, 2025

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

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Structural Visualization of Septum Formation in Staphylococcus warneri Using Atomic Force Microscopy.

Hai-Nan Su¹, Kang Li^1,2, Long-Sheng Zhao¹

¹State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Marine Biotechnology Research Center, Shandong University, Qingdao, China.

Journal of Bacteriology

|September 9, 2020

Summary

Staphylococcus warneri cell division utilizes a rapid "popping" mechanism. Its septum has two layers with concentric peptidoglycan rings, enabling ultrafast separation and initiating new cell cycles.

Keywords:

Staphylococcus atomic force microscopy cell division cell wall division septum

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Area of Science:

Microbiology
Cell Biology
Structural Biology

Background:

Staphylococcus bacteria exhibit rapid cell division via a unique "popping" mechanism.
Understanding the septum structure is key to elucidating this exceptional division process.

Purpose of the Study:

To characterize the septum structure of Staphylococcus warneri.
To provide a structural basis for the rapid daughter cell separation.

Main Methods:

High-speed time-lapse confocal microscopy
Atomic force microscopy
Electron microscopy

Main Results:

The septum of S. warneri is composed of two separable layers.
The peptidoglycan on the inner surface of the double-layered septum is organized into concentric rings.
Septum formation is nonuniform in thickness and initiates new cell cycles before completion of the previous one.

Conclusions:

The double-layered septum structure provides a mechanism for ultrafast cell separation in S. warneri.
Concentric peptidoglycan rings are a feature of the double-layered septum.
Septum formation is critical for initiating subsequent cell cycles, suggesting overlapping cell cycles.