Figure 5

Affinity imaging of cell surface adhesins. (a) AFM topographic image recorded in PBS showing two M. bovis BCG cells on a polymer substrate. (b) High-resolution image of the cell surface revealing a smooth morphology. (c, d) Two representative adhesion force maps (gray scale: 100 pN) recorded in PBS with a heparin-modified AFM tip. Adhesion events (bright pixels) reflect the detection of single adhesins. The adhesin distribution is not homogeneous, but apparently concentrated into nanodomains which may play important biological functions. Reprinted with permission from ref. [39]