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Hydrophobic and electrostatic characterization of surface structures of bacteria and its relationship to adhesion to an air-water interface

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Abstract

Hydrophobic and charge-charge interactions of Salmonella typhimirium and Serratia marcescens were determined and related to their content of fimbriae and lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The cell surface structures were characterized with hydrophobic interaction chromatography (HIC), electrostatic interaction chromatography (ESIC) and particle electrophoresis measurements. The degree of interaction at the air-water interface was tested using a monolayered lipid film applied to an aqueous surface. The cell surface hydrophobicity of S. typhimurium in the presence of fimbriae was less in smooth than in rought bacteria. Examination of a series of rough mutants of S. typhimurium indicates that reduction of the O-side chain and core oligosaccharides was correlated with increased cell hydrophobicity. The enrichment factors at the air-water interface were significantly higher for fimbriated than for non-fimbriated S. typhimurium cells. Fimbriated S. marcescens cells were less hydrophobic and adhered to a lesser degree at the air-water surface than non-fimbriated counterparts. Electrophoretic measurements and adsorption to ion exchangers gives different information about the surface charge of bacteria. The latter technique gives the interaction between localized charged surfaces.

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Abbreviations

HIC:

hydrophobic interaction chromatography

ESIC:

electrostatic interaction chromatography

LPS:

lipopolysaccharide

PBS:

phosphate buffered saline solution

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Marine Microbiology, Botanical Institute, University of Göteborg, Carl Skottsbergs Gata 22, S-41319, Göteborg, Sweden

    Malte Hermansson & Staffan Kjelleberg

  2. Department of General Microbiology, University of Helsinki, SF-00280, Helsinki, Finland

    Timo K. Korhonen

  3. National Bacteriological Laboratory, S-105 21, Stockholm, Sweden

    Thor-Axel Stenström

Authors
  1. Malte Hermansson
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  2. Staffan Kjelleberg
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  3. Timo K. Korhonen
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  4. Thor-Axel Stenström
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Hermansson, M., Kjelleberg, S., Korhonen, T.K. et al. Hydrophobic and electrostatic characterization of surface structures of bacteria and its relationship to adhesion to an air-water interface. Arch. Microbiol. 131, 308–312 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00411177

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00411177

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