Colloidal properties and specific interactions of bacterial surfaces

The research field of bacterial interactions, which is characterized by the apparent dichotomy between colloidal surface properties and specific interactions, has seen significant recent progress along both lines. In the colloidal approach, the main emphasis has been on the quantification of bacterial interaction forces, including a comparison with physico-chemical theory, the probing of bacterial surface heterogeneity using atomic force microscopy (AFM) and a focus on irreversible interactions and bond aging. In parallel, the biophysical aspects of specific interactions have been partially elucidated using force spectroscopy.