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Investigation of Bacterial Curli Production and Adhesion Using AFM

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Atomic Force Microscopy

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 1886))

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.

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Acknowledgement

This work was supported by an APART (Austrian Programme for Advanced Research and Technology) fellowship of the Austrian Academy of Science to Y.J.O.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Biophysics, Johannes Kepler University Linz, Linz, Austria

    Yoo Jin Oh & Peter Hinterdorfer

Authors
  1. Yoo Jin Oh
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  2. Peter Hinterdorfer
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yoo Jin Oh .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal

    Nuno C. Santos

  2. Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal

    Filomena A. Carvalho

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Oh, Y.J., Hinterdorfer, P. (2019). Investigation of Bacterial Curli Production and Adhesion Using AFM. In: Santos, N., Carvalho, F. (eds) Atomic Force Microscopy. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 1886. Humana Press, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-8894-5_12

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-8894-5_12

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  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4939-8893-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4939-8894-5

  • eBook Packages: Springer Protocols

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