Title |
MINIREVIEW] High-resolution imaging of the microbial cell surface |
Author |
Ki Woo Kim* |
Address |
School of Ecology and Environmental System, Kyungpook National University, Sangju 37224, Republic of Korea , Tree Diagnostic Center, Kyungpook National University, Sangju 37224, Republic of Korea |
Bibliography |
Journal of Microbiology, 54(11),703-708, 2016,
|
DOI |
10.1007/s12275-016-6348-5
|
Key Words |
imaging, microscopy, surface, ultrastructure |
Abstract |
Microorganisms, or microbes, can function as threatening
pathogens that cause disease in humans, animals, and plants;
however, they also act as litter decomposers in natural ecosystems.
As the outermost barrier and interface with the environment,
the microbial cell surface is crucial for cell-to-cell
communication and is a potential target of chemotherapeutic
agents. Surface ultrastructures of microbial cells have typically
been observed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM)
and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Owing to its characteristics
of low-temperature specimen preparation and superb
resolution (down to 1 nm), cryo-field emission SEM has
revealed paired rodlets, referred to as hydrophobins, on the
cell walls of bacteria and fungi. Recent technological advances
in AFM have enabled high-speed live cell imaging in liquid
at the nanoscale level, leading to clear visualization of celldrug
interactions. Platinum-carbon replicas from freeze-fractured
fungal spores have been observed using transmission
electron microscopy, revealing hydrophobins with varying
dimensions. In addition, AFM has been used to resolve bacteriophages
in their free state and during infection of bacterial
cells. Various microscopy techniques with enhanced spatial
resolution, imaging speed, and versatile specimen preparation
are being used to document cellular structures and
events, thus addressing unanswered biological questions. |