Abstract
Pseudomonas marina (ATCC 27 129) rapidly aggregates when suspended in buffered artificial seawater (ASW). Light microscopic observations of stained preparations, showed that flagella-flagella contact was responsible for this phenomenon. Aggregation did not occur if flagella were sheared off, or if motility was inhibited with NaN3. Aggregates were not observed when Mg2+ was omitted from ASW, even though the bacteria remained motile. Other divalent cations, including Ca2+, Mn2+, and Ba2+ could replace Mg2+. However, there is no absolute requirement for divalent cations, since aggregation occurred in ASW containing Cs+ or Li+ instead of Mg2+. P. marina aggregates developed from pH 5.8–8.4, but not below pH 5.8 even though motility continued unimpaired to pH 4.5.
Abbreviations
- ASW:
-
artificial seawater
References
Baumann L, Baumann P, Mandel M, Allen RD (1972) Taxonomy of aerobic marine eubacteria. J Bacteriol 110:402–429
Mayfield CI, Inniss, WE (1977) A rapid, simple method for staining bacterial flagella. Can Microbiol 23:1311–1313
Meadows PS (1971) The attachment of bacteria to solid surfaces. Arch Mikrobiol 75:374–381
Moore RL, Marshall KC (1981) Attachment and rosette formation by hyphomicrobia. Appl Environ Microbiol 42:751–757
Rogers HJ (1979) Adhesion of microorganisms to surfaces: Some general considerations of the role of the envelope. In: Ellwood DC, Melling J, Rutter P (eds) Adhesion of microorganisms to surfaces. Academic, London New York San Francisco, pp 28–55
Sersen CD, Doetsch RN, Sjoblad RD (1983) Motility, behavior, and aggregation of Sporosarcina urea. FEMS Microbiol Lett 17:201–204
Sjoblad RD, Doetsch RN (1982) Adsorption of polarly flagellated bacteria to surfaces. Curr Microbiol 7:191–194
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Sjoblad, R.D., Doetsch, R.N. & Emala, C.W. Novel function of eubacterial flagella: role in aggregation of a marine bacterium. Arch. Microbiol. 142, 101–102 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00409246
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00409246