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The influence of cell surface properties of thermophilic streptococci on attachment to stainlesssteel
Author(s) -
Flint S.H.,
Brooks J.D.,
Bremer P.J.
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
journal of applied microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.889
H-Index - 156
eISSN - 1365-2672
pISSN - 1364-5072
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2672.1997.00264.x
Subject(s) - biofilm , thermophile , sodium , extracellular , bacteria , trichloroacetic acid , extracellular polymeric substance , cell wall , lysozyme , cell , trypsin , chemistry , microbiology and biotechnology , bacterial cell structure , biophysics , biochemistry , polysaccharide , enzyme , biology , organic chemistry , genetics
The quality of milk products is threatened by the formation of biofilms of thermophilicstreptococci on the internal surfaces of plate heat exchangers used in milk processing. Althoughattachment to stainless steel surfaces is one of the first stages in the development of a biofilm, themechanisms involved in attachment have not been reported. The cell surface properties of 12strains of thermophilic streptococci were examined to determine their importance in attachment tostainless steel surfaces. Hydrophobicity, extracellular polysaccharide production and cell surfacecharge varied between the different strains but could not be related to numbers attaching. Treatingthe cells with sodium metaperiodate, lysozyme or trichloroacetic acid to disrupt cell surfacepolysaccharide had no effect on attachment. Treatment with trypsin or sodium dodecyl sulphate toremove cell surface proteins resulted in a 100‐fold reduction in the number of bacteria attaching.This result suggests that the surface proteins of the thermophilic streptococci are important intheir attachment to stainless steel.