A novel technique for the study of bacterial cell mechanical properties |
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Authors: | C. Shiu Z. Zhang C.R. Thomas |
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Affiliation: | (1) Centre for Bioprocess Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK |
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Abstract: | A micromanipulation method is described for measuring the bursting forces of bacteria and relating them to cell size. At a compression speed of 6.2 m s–1, bursting forces of three samples of rapidly growing Staphylococcus epidermis from a batch culture varied from 3 to 34 N with an average value of 13.8 N (standard error 0.8 N). Escherichia coli grown in continuous culture at a specific growth rate of 0.5 h–1 had bursting forces varying from 1 to 9 N with an average value of 3.6 N (standard error 0.4 N). In squeeze-hold experiments, force relaxation was observed, which was attributed to water loss from the cells, or viscoelasticity, or both. At high compression speed, such as 6.2 m s–1, this relaxation could be neglected. Micromanipulation strength measurements might be used in studies of cell mechanical disruption and of the dependence of cell strength on cell physiology. |
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Keywords: | bacteria mechanical properties micromanipulation |
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