Open AccessFactors associated with adherence to and biofilm formation on polystyrene by Stenotrophomonas maltophilia : the role of cell surface hydrophobicity and motility
Author(s) -
Pompilio Arianna,
Piccolomini Raffaele,
Picciani Carla,
D'Antonio Domenico,
Savini Vincenzo,
Di Bonaventura Giovanni
Publication year - 2008
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.1574-6968.2008.01292.x
Subject(s) - stenotrophomonas maltophilia , biofilm , motility , adhesion , polystyrene , microbiology and biotechnology , chemistry , cell adhesion , stenotrophomonas , bacteria , biophysics , biology , pseudomonas , pseudomonas aeruginosa , organic chemistry , polymer , genetics
We tested 40 clinical Stenotrophomonas maltophilia strains to investigate the possible correlation between adherence to and formation of biofilm on polystyrene, and cell surface properties such as hydrophobicity and motility. Most of the strains were able to adhere and form biofilm, although striking differences were observed. Eleven (27.5%) of the strains were hydrophobic, with hydrophobicity greatly increasing as S. maltophilia attached to the substratum. A positive correlation was observed between hydrophobicity and levels of both adhesion and biofilm formation. Most of the isolates showed swimming and twitching motility. A highly significant negative correlation was observed between swimming motility and level of hydrophobicity. Hydrophobicity is thus a significant determinant of adhesion and biofilm formation on polystyrene surfaces in S. maltophilia .