# Difference between revisions of "Surface Viscoelasticity of Individual Gram-Negative Bacterial Cells Measured Using Atomic Force Microscopy"

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## Surface Viscoelasticity of Individual Gram-Negative bacterial Cells Measured Using Atomic Force Microscopy

V. Vadillo-Rodriguez, T J. Beveridge, and T R Dutcher Journal of Bacteriology, Vol. 190, No. 12, June 2008, p. 4225-4232

Keywords: Viscoelasticity, creep

## Summary

Bacteria can be divided into two types: Gram-negative and Gram-positive, depending on the characteristics of their cell wall. Gram-negative bacteria, like the Pseudomonas aeruginosa used in this study, have two cell membranes separated by a thin layer called a periplasm. This flexible layer is a peptidoglycan, which consists of stiff polysaccharides connected by flexible protein cross-linkers. The qualitative mechanical properties of large numbers of cells and the elastic behavior of single cells have both been previously investigated, but this is one of the first works to look at the full viscoelastic properties of an individual bacterium. To accomplish this, the authors examine the force-displacement curves of an AFM-tip pushed into the cell surface, as well as the deformation over time at a constant force. The authors find that the time-scales for these processes, on the order of a couple seconds, is likely optimal for the cells. It allows the cell to maintain its integrity while growing, while still preventing the magnification of potentially hazardous local stresses.

## Soft Matter Concepts

The main feature of this paper is its focus on viscoelastic, rather than purely elastic behavior. An elastic material will deform proportional to an applied stress, whereas a viscous material will flow at a rate proportional to the stress. In the case of the cells, there is an immediate deformation of the cells, followed by a slow approach to some equilibrium strain. With an atomic force microscope, the authors were able to apply these stresses to a single cell and measure the viscoelastic response, as illustrated below:

From A to C, the tip of the AFM is advanced towards the substrate at a rate of 1.98 microns per second. After the tip reaches the cell surface at time B, the slope of the force-displacement line can be used to determine the elastic constant. Once a predetermined force is attained, the force is held fixed and the resulting displacement $\delta z$ is measured over the course of a time $\delta t$. This dynamics of this process are determined by the viscous properties of the cell.

To test the validity of this novel AFM technique, the authors...