Name: contact mode atomic force microscopy as a rapid technique for morphological observation and bacterial cell damage analysis
Uploaded: 2023-06-30T13:40:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Contact Mode Atomic Force Microscopy as a Rapid Technique for Morphological Observation and Bacterial Cell Damage Analysis at JoVE.com

Ramiro Muniz-Diaz thanks CONACyT for the scholarship.

1. Bacterial isolation and identification
<ol>
	<li>Isolation of an endophytic strain from garlic bulb meristems:
	<ol>
		<li>Place 2 mm fragments of meristems from previously peeled, disinfected, and cut garlic bulbs on trypticase soy agar (TSA) as a rich growth medium, and incubate at 25 &#176;C for 1 day.</li>
		<li>Based on the morphological differences of the bacterial colonies-shape, size, color, edge, transmitted light, reflected light, texture, consistency, and pigment production-describe the d...

<ol>
	<li>Koch, A. L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Growth+and+form+of+the+bacterial+cell+wall.">Growth and form of the bacterial cell wall.</a> American Scientist. 78 (4), 327-341 (1990).</li><li>Si, F., Li, B., Margolin, W., Sun, S. X. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Bacterial+growth+and+form+under+mechanical+compression.">Bacterial growth and form under mechanical compression.</a> Scientific Report. 5, 11367 (2015).</li><li>Pavlova, M. D., Asaturova, A. M., Kozitsyn, A. E. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Bacterial+cell+shape:+Some+features+of+ultrastructure,+evolution,+and+ecology.">Bacterial cell shape: Some features of ultrastructure, evolution, and ecology.</a> Biology Bulletin Reviews. 12, 254-265 (2022).</li><li>Cabeen, M. T., Jacobs-Wagner, C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Bacterial+cell+shape.">Bacterial cell shape.</a> Nature Reviews Microbiology. 3 (8), 601-610 (2005).</li><li>Smith, W. P., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Cell+morphology+drives+spatial+patterning+in+microbial+communities.">Cell morphology drives spatial patterning in microbial communities.</a> Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of United States of America. 114 (3), E280-E286 (2017).</li><li>Volke, D. C., Nikel, P. I. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Getting+bacteria+in+shape:+Synthetic+morphology+approaches+for+the+design+of+efficient+microbial+cell+factories.">Getting bacteria in shape: Synthetic morphology approaches for the design of efficient microbial cell factories.</a> Advanced Biosystems. 2 (11), 1800111 (2018).</li><li>Mi, L., Ning, X., Lianqing, L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Peak+force+tapping+atomic+force+microscopy+for+advancing+cell+and+molecular+biology.">Peak force tapping atomic force microscopy for advancing cell and molecular biology.</a> Nanoscale. 13 (18), 8358-8375 (2021).</li><li>Hoffman, C. S., Winston, F. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+ten-minute+DNA+preparation+from+yeast+efficiently+releases+autonomous+plasmids+for+transformation+of+Escherichia+coli.">A ten-minute DNA preparation from yeast efficiently releases autonomous plasmids for transformation of Escherichia coli.</a> Gene. 57 (2-3), 267-272 (1987).</li><li>Weisburg, W. G., Barns, S. M., Pelletier, D. A., Lane, D. 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J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Basic+local+alignment+search+tool.">Basic local alignment search tool.</a> Journal of Molecular Biology. 215 (3), 403-410 (1990).</li><li>Stackebrandt, E., Ebers, J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Taxonomic+parameter+revisited:+Tarnished+gold+standards.">Taxonomic parameter revisited: Tarnished gold standards.</a> Microbiology Today. 33, 152-155 (2006).</li><li>Mu&#241;iz Diaz, R., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Two-step+triethylamine-based+synthesis+of+MgO+nanoparticles+and+their+antibacterial+effect+against+pathogenic+bacteria.">Two-step triethylamine-based synthesis of MgO nanoparticles and their antibacterial effect against pathogenic bacteria.</a> Nanomaterials. 11 (2), 410 (2021).</li><li>Andrews, J. M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Determination+of+minimum+inhibitory+concentrations.">Determination of minimum inhibitory concentrations.</a> Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy. 48, 5-16 (2001).</li><li>Sarker, S. D., Nahar, L., Kumarasamy, Y. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Microtitre+plate-based+antibacterial+assay+incorporating+resazurin+as+an+indicator+of+cell+growth,+and+its+application+in+the+in+vitro+antibacterial+screening+of+phytochemicals.">Microtitre plate-based antibacterial assay incorporating resazurin as an indicator of cell growth, and its application in the in vitro antibacterial screening of phytochemicals.</a> Methods. 42 (4), 321-324 (2007).</li><li>Giesbrecht, P., Kersten, T., Maidhof, H., Wecke, J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Staphylococcal+cell+wall:+Morphogenesis+and+fatal+variations+in+the+presence+of+penicillin.">Staphylococcal cell wall: Morphogenesis and fatal variations in the presence of penicillin.</a> Microbiology and Molecular Biology Reviews. 62 (4), 1371-1414 (1998).</li><li>Yamada, S., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=autolysin+ring+associated+with+cell+separation+of+Staphylococcus+aureus.">autolysin ring associated with cell separation of Staphylococcus aureus.</a> Journal of Bacteriology. 178 (6), 1565-1571 (1996).</li><li>Zuttion, F., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+anti-adhesive+effect+of+glycoclusters+on+Pseudomonas+aeruginosa+bacteria+adhesion+to+epithelial+cells+studied+by+AFM+single+cell+force+spectroscopy.">The anti-adhesive effect of glycoclusters on Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria adhesion to epithelial cells studied by AFM single cell force spectroscopy.</a> Nanoscale. 10 (26), 12771-12778 (2018).</li><li>Kahli, H., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Impact+of+growth+conditions+on+Pseudomonas+fluorescens+morphology+characterized+by+atomic+force+microscopy.">Impact of growth conditions on Pseudomonas fluorescens morphology characterized by atomic force microscopy.</a> International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 23 (17), 9579 (2022).</li><li>Kambli, P., Valavade, A., Kothari, D. C., Kelkar-Mane, V. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Morphostructural+changes+induced+in+E.+coli+exposed+to+copper+ions+in+water+at+increasing+concentrations.">Morphostructural changes induced in E. coli exposed to copper ions in water at increasing concentrations.</a> World Journal of Pharmaceutical Research. 4 (10), 837-852 (2015).</li><li>Kochan, K., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=et+al.+In+vivo+atomic+force+microscopy-infrared+spectroscopy+of+bacteria.">et al. In vivo atomic force microscopy-infrared spectroscopy of bacteria.</a> Journal of the Royal Society Interface. 15, 140 (2018).</li><li>Stoimenov, P. K., Klinger, R. L., Marchin, G. L., Klabunde, K. J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Metal+oxide+nanoparticles+as+bactericidal+agents.">Metal oxide nanoparticles as bactericidal agents.</a> Langmuir. 18, 6679-6686 (2002).</li><li>Lee, H. -. E., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=NaCl+influences+thermal+resistance+and+cell+morphology+of+Escherichia+coli+strains.">NaCl influences thermal resistance and cell morphology of Escherichia coli strains.</a> Journal of Food Safety. 36 (1), 62-68 (2016).</li><li>Song, L. Y., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Antibacterial+effects+of+Schisandra+chinensis+extract+on+and+its+application+in+food.">Antibacterial effects of Schisandra chinensis extract on and its application in food.</a> Journal of Food Safety. 38 (5), e12503 (2018).</li><li>Mohamed, W. M., Khallaf, M. F., Hassan, A. A., Elbayoumi, M. M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Thermotolerance+of+Staphylococcus+aureus+after+sublethal+heat+shock.">Thermotolerance of Staphylococcus aureus after sublethal heat shock.</a> Arab Universities Journal of Agricultural Sciences. 27 (1), 467-477 (2019).</li><li>Shar, S. S., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Biomineralization+of+platinum+by+Escherichia+coli.">Biomineralization of platinum by Escherichia coli.</a> Metals. 9 (4), 407 (2019).</li><li>Baidamshina, D., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Targeting+microbial+biofilms+using+Ficin,+a+nonspecific+plant+protease.">Targeting microbial biofilms using Ficin, a nonspecific plant protease.</a> Scientific Reports. 7, 46068 (2017).</li><li>Ovchinnikova, E. S., vander Mei, H. C., Krom, B. P., Busscher, H. J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Exchange+of+adsorbed+serum+proteins+during+adhesion+of+Staphylococcus+aureus+to+an+abiotic+surface+and+Candida+albicans+hyphae-An+AFM+study.">Exchange of adsorbed serum proteins during adhesion of Staphylococcus aureus to an abiotic surface and Candida albicans hyphae-An AFM study.</a> Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces. 110, 45-50 (2013).</li></ol>

Microscopy is a technique commonly used in biological laboratories that allows for the investigation of the structure, size, morphology, and cellular arrangement of biological samples. To improve this technique, several types of microscopes can be used that differ from each other in terms of their optical or electronic characteristics, which determine the resolution power of the instrument.
In scientific research, the use of microscopy is required for the characterization of bacterial cells; f...

Different bacterial shapes were first noted by Antony van Leeuwenhoek in the 17th century1. Bacteria have existed in a great diversity of shapes since ancient times, ranging from spheres to branching cells2. Cell shape is a fundamental condition for bacterial taxonomists to describe and classify each bacterial species, mainly for the morphological separation of gram-positive and gram-negative phyla3. Several elements are known to determine bacterial cell forms, all of which are involved in the cell covers and support as components of the cell wall and membrane, as well as in the cytoskeleton. In this way, scientists are still elucidating the chemical, biochemical, and physical mechanisms and processes implicated in determining bacterial cell forms, all of which are defined by clusters of genes that define bacterial shapes2,4.
Additionally, scientists have shown that the rod shape is likely the ancestral form of bacterial cells, since this cell shape appears optimal in cell-significant parameters. Thus, cocci, spiral, vibrio, filamentous, and other forms are regarded as adaptations to various environments; indeed, particular morphologies have evolved independently multiple times, suggesting that the shapes of bacteria could be adaptations to particular environments3,5. However, throughout the bacterial cell life cycle, the cell shape changes, and this also occurs as a genetic response to damaging environmental conditions3. The bacterial cell shape and size strongly determine the stiffness, robustness, and surface-to-volume ratio of the bacteria, and this characteristic can be exploited for biotechnological processes6.
Electronic microscopy is used to study biological samples due to the high magnification that can be reached beyond light-based microscopes. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) are the most commonly used techniques for this purpose; however, samples require some treatments before they are placed into the chamber of the microscope in order to obtain appropriate images. A gold cover on the samples is required, and the time used for total image acquisition should not be too long. In contrast, atomic force microscopy (AFM) is a technique widely used in the analysis of surfaces but is also employed in the study of biological samples.
There are several types of AFM modes used in surface analysis, such as contact mode, non-contact mode or tapping, magnetic force microscopy (MFM), conductive AFM, piezoelectric force microscopy (PFM), peak force tapping (PFT), contact resonance, and force volume. Each mode is used in the analysis of materials and provides different information about the surface of the materials and their mechanical and physical properties. However, some AFM modes are used for the analysis of biological samples in vitro, such as PFT, because PFT allows for obtaining topographical and mechanical data on cells in a liquid medium7.
In this work, we used the most basic mode included in every old and simple AFM model-the contact mode. AFM uses a sharp probe (around &#60;50 nm in diameter) to scan areas less than 100 &#181;m. The probe is aligned to the sample in order to interact with the force fields associated with the sample. The surface is scanned with the probe to keep the force constant. Then, an image of the surface is generated by monitoring the motion of the cantilever as it moves across the surface. The gathered information provides the nano-mechanical properties of the surface, such as the adhesion, elasticity, viscosity, and shear.
In the AFM contact mode, the cantilever is scanned across the sample at a fixed deflection. This allows one to determine the height of the samples (Z), and this represents an advantage over the other electronic microscope techniques. The AFM software allows the generation of a 3D image scan by the interaction between the tip and sample surface, and the tip deflection is correlated to the height of the sample through a laser and a detector.
In static mode (contact mode) with constant force, the output presents two different images: the height (z topography) and the deflection or error signal. Static mode is a valuable, simple imaging mode, especially for robust samples in air that can handle the high loads and torsional forces exerted by static mode. The deflection or error mode is operated in constant force mode. However, the topography image is further enhanced by adding the deflection signal to the surface structure. In this mode, the deflection signal is also referred to as the error signal as the deflection is the feedback parameter; any features or morphology that appear in this channel are due to the &#34;error&#34; in the feedback loop or, rather, due to the feedback loop required to maintain a constant deflection setpoint.
AFM&#39;s unique design makes it compact - small enough to fit on a tabletop - while also having high enough resolution to resolve atomic steps. The AFM equipment has a lower cost than the equipment for other electronic microscopes, and the maintenance costs are minimal. The microscope does not require a lab with special conditions such as a clean room or an isolated space; it only needs a vibration-free desk. For AFM, the samples do not need to undergo elaborate preparation like for other techniques (gold cover, slimming); only a dry sample has to be attached to the sample holder.
We use AFM contact mode to observe bacterial morphologies and the effects of NPs. The population and cellular morphology of bacteria fixed on a support can be observed, as well as the cellular damage produced by nanoparticles on the bacterial species. The images obtained by AFM contact mode confirm that it is a powerful tool and is not limited by reagents and complicated procedures, making it a simple, fast, and economical method for bacterial characterization.

<table border="1" fo:keep-together.within-page="1" fo:keep-with-next.within-page="always">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>AFM EasyScan 2</td>
			<td>NanoSurf</td>
			<td>discontinued</td>
			<td>Measurement Media</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>bacteriological loop</td>
			<td>No aplica</td>
			<td>not applicable</td>
			<td>instrument for bacterial inoculation</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>BigDye Terminator v3.1</td>
			<td>ThermoFisher Scientific</td>
			<td>4337455</td>
			<td>Matrix installation kit</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Bioedit</td>
			<td>not applicable</td>
			<td>version 7.2.5</td>
			<td>Sequence alignment editor</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Cary 60 spectrometer</td>
			<td>Agilent Technologies</td>
			<td>not applicable</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>ceftriazone</td>
			<td>Merck</td>
			<td>not applicable</td>
			<td>antibiotic</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>centrifuge</td>
			<td>eppendorf</td>
			<td>not applicable</td>
			<td>to remove particles that interfere with AFM</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>ContAI-G Silicon cantilever</td>
			<td>BudgetSensors</td>
			<td>ContAl-G-10</td>
			<td>Measurement Media</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>eosin and methylene blue agar</td>
			<td>Merck</td>
			<td>not applicable</td>
			<td>bacterial culture medium</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Escherichia coli</td>
			<td>American Type Culture Collection</td>
			<td>ATCC 25922</td>
			<td>bacterial strain</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>GoTaq Flexi DNA Polymerase</td>
			<td>Promega</td>
			<td>M8295</td>
			<td>PCR of 16S rRNA gene</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>microplate</td>
			<td>Thermo Scientific</td>
			<td>10558295</td>
			<td>for microdilution analysis</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>M&#252;ller-Hinton broth</td>
			<td>Merck</td>
			<td>not applicable</td>
			<td>bacterial culture medium</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>nutrient agar</td>
			<td>Merck</td>
			<td>not applicable</td>
			<td>bacterial culture medium</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>nutritious broth</td>
			<td>Merck</td>
			<td>not applicable</td>
			<td>bacterial culture medium</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Petri dishes</td>
			<td>not applicable</td>
			<td>not applicable</td>
			<td>growth of bacteria</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Pseudomonas hunanensis 9AP</td>
			<td>not applicable</td>
			<td>not applicable</td>
			<td>isolated from the garlic bulb by CNRG</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Sanger sequencing</td>
			<td>Macrogen</td>
			<td>not applicable</td>
			<td>sequencing service</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>ScienceDesk Anti-Vibration workstation</td>
			<td>ThorLabs</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>slides</td>
			<td>not applicable</td>
			<td>not applicable</td>
			<td>glass holder for bacterial sample analysis</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Staphylococcus aureus</td>
			<td>American Type Culture Collection</td>
			<td>ATCC 25923</td>
			<td>bacterial strain</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Thermalcycler</td>
			<td>Applied Biosystems</td>
			<td>Veriti-4375786</td>
			<td>PCR amplification</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Trypticasein soy agar</td>
			<td>BD</td>
			<td>BA-256665</td>
			<td>growth media</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>ultrasonicator</td>
			<td>Cole-Parmer Ultrasonic Processor, 220 VAC</td>
			<td>not applicable</td>
			<td>for mixing the nanoparticle dilutions</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

contact mode atomic force microscopy as a rapid technique for morphological observation and bacterial cell damage analysis

Electron microscopy is one of the tools required to characterize cellular structures. However, the procedure is complicated and expensive due to the sample preparation for observation. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) is a very useful characterization technique due to its high resolution in three dimensions and because of the absence of any requirement for vacuum and sample conductivity. AFM can image a wide variety of samples with different topographies and different types of materials. 
AFM provides high-resolution 3D topography information from the angstrom level to the micron scale. Unlike traditional microscopy, AFM uses a probe to generate an image of the surface topography of a sample. In this protocol, the use of this type of microscopy is suggested for the morphological and cell damage characterization of bacteria fixed on a support. Strains of Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923), Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922), and Pseudomonas hunanensis (isolated from garlic bulb samples) were used. In this work, bacterial cells were grown in specific culture media. To observe cell damage, Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli were incubated with different concentrations of nanoparticles (NPs). 
A drop of bacterial suspension was fixed on a glass support, and images were taken with AFM at different scales. The images obtained showed the morphological characteristics of the bacteria. Further, employing AFM, it was possible to observe the damage to the cellular structure caused by the effect of NPs. Based on the images obtained, contact AFM can be used to characterize the morphology of bacterial cells fixed on a support. AFM is also a suitable tool for the investigation of the effects of NPs on bacteria. Compared to electron microscopy, AFM is an inexpensive and easy-to-use technique.

Images of the morphology and size of S. aureus and P. hunanensis strains, as well as the population organization of both strains, were taken by atomic force microscopy in contact mode.&#160;The S. aureus images showed that its population was distributed by zones with aggregates of cocci (Figure 1A). With an increase in scale, there was a greater appreciation of the population distribution and morphology of the cocci (Figure 1B). The mi...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Contact Mode Atomic Force Microscopy as a Rapid Technique for Morphological Observation and Bacterial Cell Damage Analysis at JoVE.com

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

Here, we present the application of atomic force microscopy (AFM) as a simple and fast method for bacterial characterization and analyze details such as the bacterial size and shape, bacterial culture biofilms, and the activity of nanoparticles as bactericides.

Electron microscopy is one of the tools required to characterize cellular structures. However, the procedure is complicated and expensive due to the ...

This protocol shows the use of contact mode atomic force microscopy to observe changes in cell morphology due to a specific disease or treatment. It is highly recommended to use sealed containers for this procedure to avoid contamination and analyze the fixed sample as soon as possible to avoid aging. Begin by fixing the samples on the slide by gently passing the slide over a flame several times until the sample is dry.Place the fixed samples in a Petri dish and transport them to the atomic force microscope equipment for observation. Next, turn on the computer and the atomic force microscope. Then select the contact mode, ContAI-G probes, and auto slope options in the software.Set the default values for the Z controller by setting the set point at 20 nanometers, P gain at 10, 000, I gain at 1, 000, D gain at zero, and tip voltage to zero millivolts. Using the 70 micrometer scan range head, place the samples in the AFM contact mode. Obtain a quick view of the surface of the area under the probe by using a camera mounted on two lenses integrated into the scan head.Now, choose the desired area by manually displacing it in the XY plane. Allow the probe to electronically approach the sample surface until contact is reached. Electronically adjust the XY measurement plane of the scanner and sample surface by reducing the XY slope direction.Set the standard parameters of the software to one line per second and 256 points per line. Then perform a full scan range of a 70 by 70 micrometer area. Select the smaller area using the zoom tool.Select a new area from the sample by retracting the cantilever electronically and moving the sample along the XY plane. Then perform a new scan as demonstrated before. Next, use the line by line leveling in the tools menu of the image in the filter selection to perform data processing.Optimize the maximum and minimum height in the color bar to obtain the best image resolution. Finally, perform the image analysis using the analysis menu. Select the initial and final points with the desired tool to determine the length and distance.Atomic force microscopic analysis of the bacterial cultures showed that the Staphylococcus aureus cultures were distributed by zones with cocci aggregates. Increased scales showed that there was a greater appreciation of population distribution and cocci morphology. The AFM contact mode images allowed the determination of the size of the cocci which showed an average width of 1.25 micrometers.Pseudomonas hunanensis showed a homogenous distribution on the entire glass support surface forming an adherent monolayer. The cultures were rod-shaped with a length of 1.9 micrometers and a width of 0.9 micrometers. Micro dilution exposure of magnesium oxide nanoparticles of Staphylococcus aureus resulted in the loss of a smooth surface and homogenous contours due to severe cellular structure deterioration.Vesicle formation and cytosolic material release were observed in cultures at higher concentrations than the MIC. Similar results were obtained in E.coli cultures with the controls showing smooth surfaces highlighting its homogenous rod-like shape. The structure completely disappeared at 1, 000 PPM nanoparticle exposure with only distinguishable silhouettes.It is important to perform sample fixing correctly as it is essential for further analysis. The image filter helps provide good image resolution and sample details. Using the fixing method, AFM non-contact modes could be applied which can be helpful in the study of mechanical properties.This methodology could be an inexpensive and useful tool for medical and microbiology research focused on bacterial cell damage analysis.

Research

JoVE Journal

Biology

Analysis of the Development of a Morphological Phenotype as a Function of Protein Concentration in Budding Yeast

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Live Cell Response to Mechanical Stimulation Studied by Integrated Optical and Atomic Force Microscopy

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Micro-Mechanical Characterization of Lung Tissue Using Atomic Force Microscopy

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The design and development of an aptamer&#8211;gold nanoparticle (AuNP) colorimetric assay for the detection of small molecules for in-the-field ...

Measuring the Stiffness of Ex Vivo Mouse Aortas Using Atomic Force Microscopy

Measuring the Stiffness of Ex Vivo Mouse Aortas Using Atomic Force Microscopy

Arterial stiffening is a significant risk factor and biomarker for cardiovascular disease and a hallmark of aging. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) is a ...

Preparation of Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Organisms Using Chemical Drying for Morphological Analysis in Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM)

Preparation of Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Organisms Using Chemical Drying for Morphological Analysis in Scanning Electron Microscopy SEM

Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) is a widely available technique that has been applied to study biological specimens ranging from individual proteins to ...

Rapid, Affordable, and Uncomplicated Production of Bacterial Cell-free Lysate

Cell-free gene expression offers the power of biology without the complications of a living organism. Although many such gene expression systems exist, ...

Characterizing Mechanical Properties of Primary Cell Wall in Living Plant Organs Using Atomic Force Microscopy

The mechanical properties of the primary cell walls determine the direction and rate of plant cell growth and, therefore, the future size and shape of the ...