Investigation of Bacterial Curli Production and Adhesion Using AFM

Yoo Jin Oh; Peter Hinterdorfer

doi:10.1007/978-1-4939-8894-5_12

Investigation of Bacterial Curli Production and Adhesion Using AFM

Methods Mol Biol. 2019:1886:221-231. doi: 10.1007/978-1-4939-8894-5_12.

Authors

Yoo Jin Oh¹, Peter Hinterdorfer²

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Biophysics, Johannes Kepler University Linz, Linz, Austria. yoo_jin.oh@jku.at.
² Institute of Biophysics, Johannes Kepler University Linz, Linz, Austria.

PMID: 30374870
DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-8894-5_12

Abstract

Escherichia coli cells containing the amyloid curli protein CsgA bind to abiotic surfaces and the extracellular matrix protein fibronectin. Here we describe procedures for following bacterial attachment to glass surfaces and provide protocols for coupling bacterial cells to AFM tips. Using single microbial cell force spectroscopy in physiological environment, we show methods to probe mechanical parameters and the dissociation of curliated E. coli cells from fibronectin surfaces by quantifying Young's modulus, unbinding forces, and de-adhesion works.

Keywords: AFM; Bacteria; Cell force spectroscopy; Escherichia coli; Fibronectin; Imaging.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Bacterial Adhesion*
Bacterial Proteins / biosynthesis*
Data Analysis
Escherichia coli / genetics
Escherichia coli / metabolism
Image Processing, Computer-Assisted
Microscopy, Atomic Force* / methods

Substances

Bacterial Proteins
Crl protein, Bacteria