AFM force spectroscopy for the wild-type TIL448 and the plasmid-cured derivative TIL1230.

<p>(A, D) Representative SEM images of <i>L. lactis</i> bacterial cells immobilized onto AFM tip and cantilever; (B, E) histograms of adhesion forces and (C, F) typical force-distance curves obtained when probing interactions between the wild-type TIL448 (A, B, C) and the plasmid-cured derivative TIL1230 (D, E, F) and PGM-coated polystyrene using AFM force spectroscopy in milliQ-grade water. One representative experiment (1024 force curves) is shown.