Figure 5. Atomic force microscopy (Peak Force Tapping mode) of intact and Ficin-treated S. aureus and S. epidermidis biofilms.

Bacteria were grown in BM broth for 72 h to form a rigid biofilm, the mature biofilms were gently washed by BM and a fresh BM broth was loaded. Ficin was added until final concentrations of 1000 μg/ml and incubation was followed for 24 h. The residual biofilms were washed, fixed with glutardialdehyde and analyzed with AFM. (A) – height (topography); (B) – peak force error image; (C) –adhesion force image.