Open AccessBinding of Escherichia coli K‐12 to cellulose
Author(s) -
Hwa Vivian,
Ferenci Thomas
Publication year - 1984
Publication title -
fems microbiology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.899
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1574-6968
pISSN - 0378-1097
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-6968.1984.tb01366.x
Subject(s) - divalent , cellulose , escherichia coli , bacteria , chemistry , elution , adhesion , bacterial cellulose , chromatography , carboxymethyl cellulose , biochemistry , organic chemistry , biology , sodium , genetics , gene
Escherichia coli K‐12 populations containing up to 3 · 10 9 bacteria were reversibly retained by columns containing fibrous cellulose. Using chromatographic retention as an assay of attachment to cellulose, the factors affecting bacterial binding were investigated. Minimal binding was observed in the absence of ions or at high pH. Optimal binding was observed in the presence of low concentrations of divalent cations at any pH or at pH below 4 in the absence of divalent cations. Factors found not to significantly affect bacterial retention by cellulose included the culture conditions of the bacteria, the presence of surface appendages, the presence of various sugars during chromatography or variations in elution temperature between 0 and 70°C. These results suggest that mechanisms not dependent on appendages contribute to the adhesion of a bacterium to an inert surface.