Probing bacterial membranes with polarization-resolved second harmonic scattering

Eleanor F. Page, Marea J. Blake, Tessa R. Calhoun

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

Abstract

For antibiotics that target Gram-positive bacterial cell structures, optimizing their interaction with the cytoplasmic membrane is of paramount importance. Recent time-resolved second harmonic scattering (trSHS) experiments with living bacterial cells have shown that some amphiphilic small molecules display signals consistent with organization within the membrane environment. Such organization could arise, for example, from aggregation, solvent interactions, and/or environmental rigidity. To expand our study of this system, we turn to polarization-resolved SHS (pSHS). PSHS has previously been used with model membranes to extract information about the angular distribution of integrated small molecules. Here we apply pSHS, for the first time, to cells, specifically living Staphylococcus aureus. In doing so, we aim to address contributions ascribed to the organization of amphiphilic molecules in bacterial membranes.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationUltrafast Nonlinear Imaging and Spectroscopy XII
EditorsZhiwen Liu, Demetri Psaltis, Kebin Shi
PublisherSPIE
ISBN (Electronic)9781510679382
DOIs
StatePublished - 2024
Externally publishedYes
EventUltrafast Nonlinear Imaging and Spectroscopy XII 2024 - San Diego, United States
Duration: Aug 18 2024Aug 20 2024

Publication series

NameProceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
Volume13139
ISSN (Print)0277-786X
ISSN (Electronic)1996-756X

Conference

ConferenceUltrafast Nonlinear Imaging and Spectroscopy XII 2024
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CitySan Diego
Period08/18/2408/20/24

Funding

The authors would like to thank Pierre-Marie Gassin and Gaelle Gassin for useful conversations. This research was supported by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (R35GM142928).

Keywords

  • bacteria
  • biological membranes
  • nonlinear spectroscopy
  • second harmonic scattering

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Probing bacterial membranes with polarization-resolved second harmonic scattering'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this