AFM Force Mapping Elucidates Pilus Deployment and Key Lifestyle-Dependent Surface Properties in Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus.

ABSTRACT: Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus is known for predation of a wide variety of Gram-negative bacteria, making it of interest as an alternative or supplement to chemical antibiotics. However, a fraction of B. bacteriovorus follows a nonpredatory, "host-independent" (HI) life cycle. In this study, live predatory and HI B. bacteriovorus were captured on a surface and examined, in buffer, by collecting force maps using atomic force microscopy (AFM). The approach curves obtained on HI cells are similar to those on other Gram-negative cells, with a short nonlinear region followed by a linear region. In contrast, the approach curves obtained on predatory cells have a large nonlinear region, reflecting the unusual flexibility of the predatory cell. As the AFM tip is retracted, it show

SUBMITTER: Volle CB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10062353 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature