Model of the adhesion mechanism (IMAGE) Saarland University Caption Model of the adhesion mechanism by which the bacterium Staphylococcus aureus binds to hydrophobic ('low-energy') surfaces (left) compared with hydrophilic ('high-energy') surfaces (right). On the left, a large number of cell wall molecules (shown here as tiny compressible springs) are involved in binding the cell to the hydrophobic surface. On the hydrophilic surface shown on the right, far fewer molecules are involved. The results were obtained by a team of experimental and theoretical physicists at Saarland University who performed computational Monte Carlo simulations of force-distance data from atomic force microscopy experiments. Credit Saarland University Usage Restrictions None License Licensed content Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.