Atomic Force Microscopy Investigation of the Contributions of Listeria monocytogenes Cell-Wall Biomacromolecules to Their Adherence and Mechanics

In this work, the contributions of the pathogenic Listeria monocytogenes cell-wall biomacromolecules to the bacterial mechanics and adhesion to a model inert surface of silicon nitride in water were investigated by atomic force microscopy. Chemical ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) and biological enzymatic trypsin treatments of cells were performed to partially or totally remove the bacterial cell-wall proteins and carbohydrates. Removal of 48.2% proteins and 29.2% of carbohydrates from the cell-wall of the bacterium by the EDTA treatment resulted in a significant decrease in the length of the bacterial cell-wall biomacromolecules and an increase in the rigidity of the bacterial cells as predicted from fitting a model of steric repulsion to the force-distance approach data and classic Hertz model to the indentation-force data, respectively. In comparison, removal of almost all the cell-wall proteins (99.5% removal) and 8.6% of cell-wall carbohydrates by the trypsin treatment resulted in an increase in the elasticity of the bacterial cells, an increase in the extension of the cell-wall biomacromolecules, and a significant decrease in their apparent grafting densities. In addition, adhesion strength of native-untreated L. monocytogenes to silicon nitride in water decreased by 30% on average after the EDTA treatment and further decreased by 60% on average after the trypsin treatment, showing a positive correlation with the% removal of cell-wall proteins by the EDTA and trypsin treatments, respectively.