Effect of antibiotics on mechanical properties of Bordetella pertussis examined by atomic force microscopy

In recent years, the coevolution of microorganisms with current antibiotics has increased the mechanisms of bacterial resistance, generating a major health problem worldwide. Bordetella pertussis is a bacterium that causes whooping cough and is capable of adopting different states of virulence, i.e. virulent or avirulent states. In this study, we explored the nanomechanical properties of both virulent and avirulent B. pertussis as exposed to various antibiotics. The nanomechanical studies highlighted that only virulent B. pertussis cells undergo a decrease in their cell elastic modulus and height upon antimicrobial exposure, whereas their avirulent counterparts remain unaffected. This study also permitted to highlight different mechanical properties of individual cells as compared to those growing in close contact with other individuals. In addition, we analyzed the presence on the bacterial cell wall of Filamentous hemagglutinin adhesin (FHA), the major attachment factor produced by virulent Bordetella spp., under different virulence conditions by Force Spectroscopy.

Automated summary

In recent years, the coevolution of microorganisms with antibiotics has led to increased bacterial resistance, posing a major global health problem. This study examined the nanomechanical properties of both virulent and avirulent Bordetella pertussis in response to different antibiotics, and found that only virulent cells showed changes in cell elasticity and height after antimicrobial exposure, while avirulent cells remained unaffected. Furthermore, the study revealed different mechanical properties of individual cells compared to those growing in close contact with others, as well as analyzed the presence of the major attachment factor, Filamentous hemagglutinin adhesin (FHA), on the bacterial cell wall under different virulence conditions through Force Spectroscopy.