In vivo atomic force microscopy of surface proteins on Deinococcus radiodurans

We present in vivo images of the outer cell wall of the bacteria Deinococcus radiodurans using noncontact atomic force microscopy (AFM). High-resolution imaging shows a hexagonal-packed lattice. This lattice is consistent with previous observations of a hexagonally packed intermediate layer from extracted cell wall material. The ordered hexagonal structures were primarily observed at the interfaces between adjoining bacteria, while rougher, "orange-peel-like" structures were observed in other regions. It is possible that the bacteria were in a dormant state during imaging as the desiccation tolerance of D. radiodurans is well documented. The only previous observations of the HPI layer of D. radiodurans have been performed on chemically extracted S-layers applied to flat substrates. Our report is the first in vive observation of these structures in D. radiodurans without invasive sample preparation. Additionally, this is the first known report of in vivo observation of bacterial S-layers by AFM.