Quantification of S. aureus binding to extracellular matrix molecules using optical tweezers

Infection of host tissue or medical devices often results from bacterial adhesion to extracellular matrix molecules. In some bacterial species, this adhesion is mediated by microbial surface components recognizing adhesive matrix molecules (MSCRAMMs) covalently anchored in the bacterial cell wall, Developing a greater understanding of the interactions between MSCRAMMs and their ligands can lead to improved methods of preventing bacterial adhesion. As a first step toward this goal, we present an optical tweezers technique for the measurement of the force required to detach individual Staphylococcus aureus cells from surfaces coated with fibronectin.