In this application note, we show how the power of AFM force spectroscopy with tips bearing biologically active molecules can be utilized to explore the dynamics of the interaction between individual bacterial adhesins and their receptors as well as to map single adhesins directly on living bacteria. This approach was applied to Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the etiologic agent of tuberculosis, which adheres to heparan sulphate receptors on epithelial cells via the heparin-binding haemagglutinin adhesin (HBHA)3. DI Multimode V