Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Bacterial adhesion to inert thermoplastic surfaces

  • Papers
  • Published:
Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Medicine Aims and scope Submit manuscript

The adhesion of four bacterial species, two strains of each, to four hydrophobic thermoplastics was observed. Image analysis of adherent cells stained with acridine orange provided a rapid, direct and objective means of measuring adhesion to clear, translucent and opaque surfaces by calculating the percentage area of a microscopic field covered by cells (percentage coverage). There was a highly significant correlation (P>0.05) between percentage coverage value and adherent cell count (obtained manually) for both rods and cocci. Bacterial adhesion to thermoplastics appeared to be strain specific and was not related to polymer composition. Highest percentage coverage values were obtained using hydrophobic bacteria, and lowest using hydrophilic bacteria. There was no relationship between the origin of the organisms (culture collections or isolates from biomaterial-associated infections) and their ability to adhere, after cultivation in brain heart infusion broth. Many factors influence this ability: an awareness of all experimental variables is essential.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. L. P. SAMARANAYAKE and T. W. MACFARLANE, Arch. Oral Biol 25 (1980) 603.

    Google Scholar 

  2. A. G. GRISTINA, Science 237 (1987) 1588.

    Google Scholar 

  3. J. VERRAN, D. B. DRUCKER and C. J. TAYLOR, Microbios 29 (1980) 161.

    Google Scholar 

  4. K. C. MARSHALL, R. STOUT and R. J. MITCHELL, J. Gen. Microbiol. 68 (1971) 337.

    Google Scholar 

  5. K. PEDERSON, Water Res. 24 (1990) 224.

    Google Scholar 

  6. I. B. BEECH and C. C. GAYLORDE, J. Appl. Bact. 67 (1989) 201.

    Google Scholar 

  7. H. J. BUSSCHER, J. SJOLLEMA, H. C.VAN DER MEI, R. J. DOYLE and M. ROSENBERG (eds) in “Microbial cell hydrophobicity” (American Society for Microbiology, Washington DC, 1991) p. 335.

    Google Scholar 

  8. M. C. M.VAN LOOSDRECHT, J. LYKLEMA, W. NORDE, G. SCHRAA, and A. J. B. ZEHNDER, Appl. Env. Microbiol. 53 (1987) 1893.

    Google Scholar 

  9. G. HARKES, J. FEIJEN and J. DANKERT, Biomaterials 12 (1991) 853.

    Google Scholar 

  10. J. CARBALLO, C. M. FERREIROS, M. T. CRIADO, J. Biomater. Applic. 7 (1992) 130.

    Google Scholar 

  11. A. H. WEERKAMP, H. M. VYEN, H. J. BUSSCHER, J. Dent. Res. 67 (1988).

  12. P. GILBERT, P. J. EVANS, E. EVANS, I. G. DUGUID and M. R. W. BROWN, J. Appl. Bact. 71 (1991) 72.

    Google Scholar 

  13. M. ROSENBERG, D. GUTNICK and F. ROSENBERG, FEMS Microbiol. Lett. 9 (1980) 29.

    Google Scholar 

  14. B. ENER and L. J. DOUGLAS, FEMS Microbiol. Lett. 99 (1992) 37.

    Google Scholar 

  15. M. FLETCHER and K. C. MARSHALL, Appl. Env. Microbiol. 44 (1982) 184.

    Google Scholar 

  16. H. C.VAN DER MEI, M. ROSENBERG and H. J. BUSSCHER, In. edited by M. HOZES, P. S. HANDLEY, H. J. BUSSCHER and P. G. ROUXHET “Microbiol cell surface analysis structural and physiochemical methods”, (VCH, New York, 1991) p. 263.

    Google Scholar 

  17. J. VERRAN, G. LEES and A. P. SHAKESPEARE, Biofouling 3 (1991) 183.

    Google Scholar 

  18. A. P. SHAKESPEARE and J. VERRAN, Lett. Appl. Microbiol. 6 (1988) 79.

    Google Scholar 

  19. H. J. BUSSCHER, A. W. J.VAN PELT, P.DE BOER, H. P.DE JONG and J. ARENDS, Colloids and Surfaces 9 (1984) 319.

    Google Scholar 

  20. J. A. EVANS-HURRELL, J. ADLER, S. P. DENYER, T. G. ROGERS and P. WILLIAMS, FEMS Microbiol. Lett. 107 (1993) 77.

    Google Scholar 

  21. D. W. LAMBEJr, C. JEFFERY, K. P. FERGUSON and M. D. COOPER, Microbios 78 (1994) 133.

    Google Scholar 

  22. G. A. MCFETERS, A. SINGH, S. BYUS, P. R. CALLIS and S. WILLIAMS, J. Microbiol. Methods 13 (1991) 87.

    Google Scholar 

  23. A. GIMMOUR, A. B. WILSON and T. W. FRASER, In “Microbial biofilms, formation and control”. Soc. Appl. Bact. Technical Series, No. 30 edited by S. P. DENYER, S. P. GORMAN and M. SUSSMAN, Blackwell Scientific Publications Oxford, (1993).

    Google Scholar 

  24. R. L. KEPNER and J. R. PRATT, Microbiol. Rev. 58 (1994) 603.

    Google Scholar 

  25. M. ROSENBERG and S. KJELLEBERG, Adv. Microbial. Ecol. 9 (1986) 353.

    Google Scholar 

  26. I. H. PRATT-TERPSTRA, A. H. WEERKAMP and H. J. BUSSCHER, Curr. Microbiol. 16 (1988) 311.

    Google Scholar 

  27. M. W. ESPERSEN, L. CORNELIUSSEN, A. HOGT, B. T. ROSDAHL, N. FRIMODT-MOLLER and P. SKINNOJ, J. Med Microbiol. 40 (1994) 37.

    Google Scholar 

  28. J. VERRAN and R. L. TAYLOR, In “Life and Death of Biofilm” edited by J. P. S. WIMPENNY, P. HANDLEY, P. GILBERT and H. LAPPIN (Scott Bioline, Cardiff 1995) p. 53.

    Google Scholar 

  29. H. J. BUSSCHER, M. M. COWAN and H. C.VAN DER MEI, FEMS Microbiol. Rev. 88 (1992), 199.

    Google Scholar 

  30. M. LINDAHL, A. FARLIS, T. WADSTROM and S. HJERTEN, Biochem. Biophys. Acta 677 (1981), 471.

    Google Scholar 

  31. D. P. SPEERT, B. A. LOH, A. CABRAL and I. E. SALIT, Infect. Immun 22 (1986) 462.

    Google Scholar 

  32. H. C.VAN DER MEI, A. H. WEERKAMP and H. J. BUSSCHER, J. Microbiol. 6 (1994) 277.

    Google Scholar 

  33. A. H. HOGT, J. DANKERT and J. FEIJEN, J. Gen. Microbiol. 131 (1986) 2485.

    Google Scholar 

  34. S. MCELDOWNEY and M. FLETCHER, Appl. Env. Microbiol. 52 (1986) 460.

    Google Scholar 

  35. J. DANKERT, A. H. HOGT and J. FEIJEN, CRC Crit. Rev. Biocompat. 2 (1986) 219.

    Google Scholar 

  36. R. E. BAIER, In “Dental Plaque and surface interactions in the oral cavity” edited by S.A. Leach (London Information Referral Ltd, 1980) p. 31.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biological Sciences, Manchester Metropolitan University, John Dalton Building, Chester Street, M1 5GD, Manchester, UK

    J. Verran & R. L. Taylor

  2. Department of Materials Technology, Manchester Metropolitan University, John Dalton Building, Chester Street, M1 5GD, Manchester, UK

    G. C. Lees

Authors
  1. J. Verran
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. R. L. Taylor
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. G. C. Lees
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Verran, J., Taylor, R.L. & Lees, G.C. Bacterial adhesion to inert thermoplastic surfaces. J Mater Sci: Mater Med 7, 597–601 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00058198

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00058198

Keywords

Search

Navigation