Scanning probe and holographic micrscopy

该研究将原子力显微镜（AFM）以及荧光和全息显微镜应用于凝聚态物理和生物物理学中的各种问题。其中一个目标是了解导致细菌细胞分裂的详细分子机制。特别是，AFM将用于获得磷脂膜上的Min蛋白的图像。这将展示在细胞分裂中起作用的分子是如何与细菌包膜内壁结合的。原子力显微镜还将用于测量附着在原子力显微镜尖端的适当抗体在活细菌表面的蛋白质结合，目的是绘制细菌表面蛋白质分布的地图。此外，将对细菌壁上的应力承载层进行高分辨率成像，以解决有关该细胞成分的详细分子结构的长期存在的问题。这一层使细胞在内部压力下保持稳定，但这一层也必须允许分子通过细胞壁。因此，发现这一应力承受力层的正确结构对于理解细胞功能和抗菌药物的开发非常重要。数字在线全息显微镜（DIHM）与可见光已达到亚微米分辨率。我们的研究将把DIHM测量扩展到红外，这将为软物质研究和医学开辟潜在的新应用领域。

The research will apply Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) as well as, Fluorescence and Holographic microscopy to a variety of problems in condensed matter physics and biophysics. One objective is to understand the detailed molecular mechanisms that lead to cell division in bacteria. In particular, AFM will be used to obtain images of Min proteins on phospholipids membranes. This will show how molecules, that play a role in cell division, associate and bind to the inner wall of the bacterial envelope. The AFM will also be used to measure the binding of proteins on the surface of live bacteria with appropriate antibodies attached to the tip of the AFM, with the aim to produce maps of the distribution of proteins on the bacterial surface. Furthermore, high resolution imaging of the stress bearing layer in the bacterial wall will be performed in order to resolve the long standing questions concerning the detailed molecular architecture of this cell component. The layer gives the cell stability against the internal pressure but the layer must also allow molecular traffic through the cell wall. It is therefore important for an understanding of cell function and also for the development of antimicrobial agents to discover the correct architecture of this stress bearing layer. Digital in-line holographic microscopy (DIHM) with visible light has achieved sub micron resolution. Our research will extend DIHM measurements into the infrared which will open up potentially new application areas in soft matter research and medicine.