AFM characterization of the substrates exposed to
S. aureus
for 18 h. Topographical images (25 μm × 25 μm) of a) Latex 1, b) Latex 2, c) Kaolin, d) PCC, e) PS, and f) PDMS exposed to S. aureus for 18 h. Z-ranges are: a i) 768 nm, ii) 469 nm, b) 1168 nm, c) 749 nm, d) 907 nm, e) 780 nm and f) 158 nm. The scale bar in each image is 5 μm.