Yan Yan, Xu Chen-biao, Niu Wei-dong
Dept. of Oral Medicine, School of Stomatology, Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116044, China.
Hua Xi Kou Qiang Yi Xue Za Zhi. 2010 Aug;28(4):447-9, 454.
To observe the surface of Enterococcus faecalis and the dynamic forming process of those biofilms using atomic force microscopy (AFM) in air condition.
The surface of Enterococcus faecalis which were dried in air were observed with AFM. We used the cellulose nitrate film to construct the Enterococcus faecalis biofilms model in vitro, and then placed the biofilms under AFM to observe the surface changes of biofilms' development.
The cell surfaces of strain Enterococcus faecalis were not regular because of the presence of the amorphous substance on the colony surface, which congregated globular, fibrous structure. Gradually determined that at 6 h the initial biofilm formed and at 24 h the biofilms maintained the steady-state. AFM height images showed topographical changes due to biofilms' development, which were used to characterize several aspects of the bacterial surface, such as the presence of extracellular polymeric substance, and the biofilms' development stage.
Application of AFM in physiological conditions could be useful in observing Enterococcus faecalis surface ultrastructure and dynamic process of biofilms formation.
在空气环境下，使用原子力显微镜（AFM）观察粪肠球菌的表面及其生物膜的动态形成过程。
用AFM观察在空气中干燥的粪肠球菌的表面。我们使用硝酸纤维素膜在体外构建粪肠球菌生物膜模型，然后将生物膜置于AFM下观察生物膜发育过程中的表面变化。
由于菌落表面存在无定形物质，粪肠球菌菌株的细胞表面不规则，这些无定形物质聚集形成球状、纤维状结构。逐渐确定在6小时时形成初始生物膜，在24小时时生物膜维持稳态。AFM高度图像显示了由于生物膜发育引起的地形变化，这些变化用于表征细菌表面的几个方面，如胞外聚合物的存在以及生物膜的发育阶段。
在生理条件下应用AFM有助于观察粪肠球菌的表面超微结构和生物膜形成的动态过程。
