Visualization of Gram-positive bacterial pili

Methods Mol Biol. 2013:966:77-95. doi: 10.1007/978-1-62703-245-2_5.

Abstract

Pili or fimbriae are recognized as essential virulence determinants assembled on the bacterial surface. Gram-positive bacteria produce covalently linked pilus structures that are distinct from gram-negative counterparts. In this chapter, we describe three commonly used techniques to extract, detect, and visualize pili from gram-positive bacteria: (1) Western blot analysis, (2) Immuno-Electron Microscopy, and (3) Atomic Force Microscopy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Blotting, Western
  • Cell Fractionation
  • Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel
  • Fimbriae, Bacterial*
  • Gram-Positive Bacteria / ultrastructure*
  • Microscopy, Atomic Force
  • Microscopy, Immunoelectron