Surface visualisation of bacterial biofilms using neutral atom microscopy
The scanning helium microscope (SHeM) is a new technology that uses a beam of neutral helium atoms to image surfaces non-destructively and with extreme surface sensitivity. Here, we present the application of the SHeM to image bacterial biofilms. We demonstrate that the SHeM uniquely and natively visualises the surface of the extracellular polymeric substance matrix in the absence of contrast agents and dyes and without inducing radiative damage.
Authors
- Vernita Gordon (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5989-9378)
- Sam Lambrick (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0720-6071)
- Michelle Mikesh
- Brendan W. Wren (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6140-9489)
- Katherine A. Brown (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8400-6922)
- Lisa F. Dawson (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4644-2368)
- David M. Williamson
- Matthew Bergin
- Paul C. Dastoor (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6573-7148)
- David J. Ward (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1587-7011)
- Sushma Shivaswamy (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9044-198X)
- Vikram Rana (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1703-8796)
- R. M. Langford (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8703-067X)
- Xuening Zhou
- Nick A. von Jeinsen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2842-7781)
Institutions
- University of Cambridge (GB)
- London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (GB)
- XBiotech (United States) (US)
- Texas Center for Infectious Disease (US)
- University of Newcastle Australia (AU)
- The University of Texas at Austin (US)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Journal of Microscopy
- Published
- 2025-10-03
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1111/jmi.70038
- Primary Topic
- Digital Holography and Microscopy
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- National Science Foundation
- National Institutes of Health