Ultrafast spectroscopy of C-H vibrations in pathogenic bacteria in 3-μm spectral range

Dynamic optical density spectra were obtained under multipulse excitation of bacterial cultures of S. aureus and P. aeruginosa by 3 mu m mid-infrared ultrashort laser pulses, corresponding to the vibrational excitation of the C-H bonds of the bacterial cell. These spectra demonstrated pronounced laser intensity-dependent blue spectral shift, presumably associated with the breaking of hydrogen bonds, which are responsible for the formation of secondary and tertiary protein structures.

Automated summary

Dynamic optical density spectra were obtained by exciting bacterial cultures with mid-infrared ultrashort laser pulses. The spectra showed laser intensity-dependent blue spectral shift, which is presumably related to the protein structures of the bacterial cells.