Mechanically resolved imaging of bacteria using expansion microscopy.

摘要: Imaging dense and diverse microbial communities has broad applications in basic microbiology medicine, but remains a grand challenge due to the fact that many species adopt similar morphologies. While prior studies have relied on techniques involving spectral labeling, we developed an expansion microscopy method (μExM) which bacterial cells are physically expanded imaging. We find patterns depend structural mechanical properties of cell wall, vary across conditions. use this phenomenon as quantitative sensitive phenotypic imaging contrast orthogonal separation resolve different or distinct physiological states. Focusing host–microbe interactions difficult quantify through fluorescence alone, demonstrate ability μExM distinguish vitro defined community human gut commensals vivo model microbiota, sensitively detect cell-envelope damage caused by antibiotics previously unrecognized cell-to-cell heterogeneity among pathogenic bacteria they infect macrophages.