Atomic force microscope and -spectroscope with bio-measurement head

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The applicants wish to apply for a latest generation atomic force microscope and spectroscope (hereafter abbreviated as AFM) with bio-measurement head to determine the initial adhesion processes of living microorganisms (bacteria, fungi, parasites) on clinically relevant, biotic and abiotic, surfaces. The new AFM, which is to be set up in a genetic engineering facility of safety level 2 (hereafter abbreviated as S2 GenTG laboratory), shall be used to record precise force-distance curves of pathogenic microorganisms of risk group 2 under conditions that come as close as possible to real infection events. Compared to our AFM currently in use (which is now 14 years old), the new instrument will have a significantly improved signal-to-noise ratio, faster imaging properties and a greatly extended z-range (possibility of controlled movement in the vertical axis). Our research will focus in particular on the interaction of microorganisms with implants commonly used in clinical practice such as long-term catheters, dental implants and stents (in combination with body fluids such as blood plasma or saliva, or implants explanted from patients) as well as with human single cells, cell cultures, organoids and tissue samples. Furthermore, we would like to use the new device to generate elasticity profiles of eukaryotic cells (cancer and immune cells) and tissue sections, to characterize membrane-to-cortex cross-linking of melanoma cells, and - for the first time - to image the surface topography of the adhesive organelle of the parasite Giardia duodenales by atomic force microscopy.