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Interaction of live and dead Escherichia coli O157:H7 and fluorescent microspheres with lettuce tissue suggests bacterial processes do not mediate adherence
Author(s) -
Solomon E.B.,
Matthews K.R.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
letters in applied microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.698
H-Index - 110
eISSN - 1472-765X
pISSN - 0266-8254
DOI - 10.1111/j.1472-765x.2005.01816.x
Subject(s) - escherichia coli , library science , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , computer science , genetics , gene
Aims: The goal of this study was to determine whether any specific bacterial processes (biochemical or genetic) or cell surface moieties were required for the interaction between Escherichia coli O157:H7 and lettuce plant tissue. Methods and Results: Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Fluospheres TM (fluorescent polystyrene microspheres) were used in experiments to investigate interactions with lettuce. Fluospheres TM were used as they are a nonbiological material, of similar size and shape to a bacterial cell, but lack bacterial cell surface moieties and the ability to respond genetically. Live and glutaraldehyde‐killed E. coli O157:H7 attached at levels of c. 5·8 log 10 cells per cm 2 following immersion of lettuce pieces into a suspension containing c. 8 log 10 CFU ml −1 . In a separate experiment, numbers of bacteria or Fluospheres TM associated with lettuce decreased by c. 1·5 log cm −2 following a 1‐min wash. Exposure times of 1 min, 1 h, or 6 h had little effect on the level of attachment for Fluospheres TM , and live or killed cells of E. coli O157:H7 to lettuce tissue. Significance: These results indicate that bacterial processes and cell surface moieties are not required for the initial interaction of E. coli O157:H7 to lettuce plant tissue.