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A Bacterium's Sense of “Touch”

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 February 2011

Ruchirej Yongsunthon ,
Brian H. Lower ,
Vance G. Fowler ,
Emily Alexander  and
Steven K. Lower
Ruchirej Yongsunthon
Affiliation:
yongsuntr@Corning.com, Corning Incorporated, Molecular Spectroscopy and Separations, Corning Incorporated, SP-FR-01, R1S12L/23L, Corning, NY 14831, Corning, NY, 14831, United States
Brian H. Lower
Affiliation:
brian.lower@pnl.gov, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, 99352, United States
Vance G. Fowler
Affiliation:
fowle003@mc.duke.edu, Duke University, Durham, NC, 27710, United States
Emily Alexander
Affiliation:
emily.alexander@duke.edu, Duke University, Durham, NC, 27710, United States
Steven K. Lower
Affiliation:
lower.9@osu.edu, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, United States
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Abstract

The sheer number of bacteria living on solid surfaces makes a compelling argument for the existence of surface sensing mechanisms. However, surface sensing abilities have not been widely studied in bacteria, because such abilities are not macroscopically observable in attached organisms with limited mobility. We report experimental evidence that attached Staphylococcus aureus cells recognize the steep gradient near their substrate interface and localize substrate-specific biomolecules toward that region. We present Atomic Force Microscopy-based affinity maps which reflect the cells' biochemical sensory response to the substrate and provide a unique view of regions indicating specific binding activity and bond resilience.

Keywords

scanning probe microscopy (SPM)biologicalbiomaterial
Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 1063: Symposium OO – Solids at the Biological Interface , 2007 , 1063-OO07-03
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2008

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References

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