Abstract
Bacterial adhesion is currently the subject of increased interest from the research community, leading to fast progress in our understanding of this complex phenomenon. Resent research within this field has documented the important roles played by glycans for bacterial surface adhesion, either through interaction with lectins or with other glycans. In parallel with this increased interest for and understanding of bacterial adhesion, there has been a growth in the sophistication and use of sensitive force probes for single-molecule and single cell studies. In this review, we highlight how the sensitive force probes atomic force microscopy (AFM) and optical tweezers (OT) have contributed to clarifying the mechanisms underlying bacterial adhesion to glycosylated surfaces in general and mucosal surfaces in particular. We also describe research areas where these techniques have not yet been applied, but where their capabilities appear appropriate to advance our understanding.
Highlights
Recent research papers illustrate that bacterial adhesion is currently the subject of increased interest from the research community, leading to fast progress in our understanding of this complex phenomenon
We have here reviewed how the sensitive force probes atomic force microscopy (AFM) and optical tweezers (OT) have contributed to the recent advances in our understanding of how glycans contribute to the adhesion of bacteria to mucosal surfaces, by revealing biophysical features of the adhesive interactions underlying microbial adhesion
The literature contain examples where these force probes have provided insight into both pili-based and non-pili based attachment to mucosal surfaces. Many of these adhesion events occur in nature under conditions of applied external force, due to the bacteria being transported in a liquid flow
Summary
Recent research papers illustrate that bacterial adhesion is currently the subject of increased interest from the research community, leading to fast progress in our understanding of this complex phenomenon. The increased awareness of the importance of forces for biological systems has been aided by a growth in the sophistication and use of sensitive force probes for single-molecule and single cell studies This field includes studies in which atomic force microscopy (AFM) is used to study the adhesive properties of microbes, as recently reviewed [3]. Ashkin and co-workers [5,6] pioneered the use of light to micromanipulate micro-sized particles by exerting pico-Newton (pN) forces in the waist of a highly focused laser beam by a high numerical aperture microscope objective (Figure 1b) This technique opened a large avenue for force spectroscopy as it made it possible to both pull single molecules such as DNA [7], titin [8], or pili [9] with forces in the pN-range and to determine the molecular interactions driving adhesion processes. We will in the paragraph focus on tip functionalization strategies involving biomolecules and living cells, given their relevance to understand the role of glycans in bacterial adhesion to mucosal surfaces
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
