Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

A Bacterium’s Sense of “Touch”

  • Published:
MRS Online Proceedings Library Aims and scope

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 attachedStaphylococcus 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.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. W. B. Whitman, D. C. Coleman, and W. J. Wiebe, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 95: 6578–6583 (1998)

  2. D. B. Dusenbery, Biophys. J. 74: 2272–2277 (1998)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. R. Thar, M. Kuhl, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 100: 5748–5753 (2002)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. R. A Proctor, D. F. Mosher, and P. J. Olbrantz, J. Biol. Chem. 257: 14788–14794 (1982)

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Green, C., McDevitt, D., Francois, P., Vaudaux, P.E., Lew, D.P., and Foster, T.J. Molecul. Microbiol. 17: 1143–1152 (1995)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Foster T. J. and Hook M. (1998) Trends in Microbiology 6(12), 484–488 (1998)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. F.D. Lowy, New Engl. J. Med. 339:520–532 (1998)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. J. P. Cleveland, S. Manne, D. Bocek, P. K. Hansma, Rev. Sci. Instrum. 64(2): pp. 403–405 (1992)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. B. H. Lower, R. Yongsunthon, F. P. Vellano, S. K. Lower, J. Bacteriol. 187:2127–2137 (2005)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. V. Vadillo-Rodriguez, H. J. Busscher, W. Norde, J. de Vries, R. J. B. Dijkstra, I. Stokroos, H.C. van der Mei1, Appl. Environ. Microb. 70: 5441–5446 (2004)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. T. A. Camesano, M. J. Natan, B. E. Logan, Langmuir 16(10) 4563–4572 (2000)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Corning Incorporated, Corning, NY, 14831, USA

    Ruchirej Yongsunthon

  2. Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA

    Ruchirej Yongsunthon & Steven K. Lower

  3. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, 99352, USA

    Brian H. Lower

  4. Duke University, Durham, NC, 27710, USA

    Vance G. Fowler & Emily Alexander

Authors
  1. Ruchirej Yongsunthon
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Brian H. Lower
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Vance G. Fowler
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Emily Alexander
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Steven K. Lower
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Yongsunthon, R., Lower, B.H., Fowler, V.G. et al. A Bacterium’s Sense of “Touch”. MRS Online Proceedings Library 1063, 703 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1557/PROC-1063-OO07-03

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1557/PROC-1063-OO07-03

Search

Navigation