ATOMIC FORCE MICROSCOPY STUDY OF BACTERIAL CELLS

A.V. Bolshakova

Joint SPM Group,
Moscow State University & Advanced Technologies Center
 
      Recently our attention was attracted by medicine application of the AFM, in particular, exploration of bacteria. 
      It is very important to understand and explain processes and underlining mechanisms taking place in living cell. AFM can help us in these beginnings by its simplicity, obviosness, quickness, possibility of in situ investigations and many other features. It is also important to eliminate limitations of the atomic force microscopy method. The main difficulty is immobilization of living cells on substrate without their destruction and sweeping away by the AFM tip.  
  • We report the possibility of bacteria investigation using AFM.
  • Images of bacteria of different taxonomy groups were obtained.
  • Mechanical properties of Arthrobacter globoformis were studied by AFM.
  • The method of visualization of bacteria in liquid was worked out.
 
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