title: Nanomechanical analysis of Clostridium tyrobutyricum spores.
abstract: In this work we report on the measurement of the Young modulus of the external surface of Clostridium tyrobutyricum spores in air with an atomic force microscope. The Young modulus can be reliably measured despite the strong tip-spore adhesion forces and the need to immobilize the spores due to their slipping on most substrates. Moreover, we investigate the disturbing factors and consider some practical aspects that influence the measurements of elastic properties of biological objects with the atomic force microscopy indentation techniques.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Matematica e Fisica, Università Cattolica, I-25121 Brescia, Italy.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Andreeva
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bassi
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cappa
authors.forename: P S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Cocconcelli
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Parmigiani
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ferrini
mesh_terms: D048014:Clostridium tyrobutyricum / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D004548:Elasticity; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force / Q000379:methods; D013170:Spores / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D013314:Stress, Mechanical