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Adhesion heterogeneity of individual bacterial cells in an axenic culture studied by atomic force microscopy
Author(s) -
Laskowski Dariusz,
Strzelecki Janusz,
Dahm Hanna,
Balter Aleksander
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
environmental microbiology reports
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.229
H-Index - 69
ISSN - 1758-2229
DOI - 10.1111/1758-2229.12978
Subject(s) - biofilm , adhesion , axenic , bacteria , biology , population , escherichia coli , microbiology and biotechnology , phenotype , colonization , cell adhesion , atomic force microscopy , biophysics , chemistry , genetics , nanotechnology , materials science , gene , demography , organic chemistry , sociology
Summary The evaluation of bacterial adhesive properties at a single‐cell level is critical for under standing the role of phenotypic heterogeneity in bacterial attachment and community formation. Bacterial population exhibits a wide variety of adhesive properties at the single‐cell level, suggesting that bacterial adhesion is a rather complex process and some bacteria are prone to phenotypic heterogeneity. This heterogeneity was more pronounced for Escherichia coli , where two subpopulations were detected. Subpopulations exhibiting higher adhesion forces may be better adapted to colonize a new surface, especially during sudden changes in environmental conditions. Escherichia coli was characterized by a higher adhesion force, a stronger ability to form biofilm and larger heterogeneity index calculated in comparison with Bacillus subtilis . Higher adhesion forces are associated with a more efficient attachment of bacteria observed in an adhesion assay and might provide a basis for successful colonization, survival and multiplications in changing environment. The atomic force microscopy provides a platform for investigation of the adhesion heterogeneity of individual cells within a population, which may be expected to underpin further elucidation of the adaptive significance of phenotypic heterogeneity in a natural environment.