The use of atomic force microscopy for studying interactions of bacterial biofilms with surfaces

Biofilms formed in different environments under either field or laboratory conditions on naturally occurring and man-made surfaces have been extensively studied in various stages of their development using a wide range of microscopy techniques. The majority of these methods are, however, qualitative and, with the exception of scanning electron microscopy (SEM), do not provide information on the effect that the biofilm exerts on the underlying substratum. In contrast, atomic force microscopy (AFM) has proven to be a potent tool for characterising, both qualitatively and quantitatively, aspects of biofilm/substratum interactions. This communication provides an overview of the application of AFM for the investigation of bacterial biofilms focusing on specific studies related to metallic surfaces such as stainless steel and copper alloys in freshwater and marine environments.