AFM in cellular and molecular microbiology.

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Biophysics
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) offers unique capabilities like super-resolution imaging and piconewton force sensitivity.
• AFM enables research under physiological conditions, crucial for cellular and molecular biology.
• Its applications extend to unraveling microbial cell envelope architectures and responses to antimicrobial treatments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To survey how the versatility of AFM addresses crucial questions in microbiology, particularly concerning bacterial pathogens.
• To highlight AFM's role in understanding bacterial cell envelope ultrastructure and nanomechanics.
• To showcase AFM's utility in characterizing molecular forces and adhesive properties relevant to pathogen behavior.

Main Methods:

• AFM topographic imaging to visualize nanoscale architectures of microbial cell envelopes.
• Nanomechanical measurements to assess cell elasticity, tensile strength, and turgor pressure.
• Single-molecule and single-cell force spectroscopy to analyze receptor-ligand interactions and bacterial pili adhesion.

Main Results:

• AFM imaging elucidated fine architectures of microbial cell envelopes and their alterations by antimicrobial agents.
• Nanomechanical mapping revealed insights into cell envelope elasticity, tensile strength, and drug resistance.
• Force spectroscopy characterized molecular forces in pathogen adhesion, including catch bond behavior in bacterial adhesins.

Conclusions:

• AFM is a versatile tool for addressing critical questions in microbiology, especially for bacterial pathogens.
• AFM provides high-resolution insights into bacterial ultrastructure, nanomechanics, and molecular adhesion forces.
• Understanding these properties using AFM aids in developing strategies against bacterial pathogens and antimicrobial resistance.