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Cell surface hydrophobicity of Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans Y 4
Author(s) -
Kozlovsky A.,
Metzger Z.,
Eli I.
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
journal of clinical periodontology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.456
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1600-051X
pISSN - 0303-6979
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-051x.1987.tb00986.x
Subject(s) - actinobacillus , bacteria , adhesion , microbiology and biotechnology , octane , in vitro , chemistry , cell , biology , biochemistry , organic chemistry , genetics
Oral bacteria colonize the dento‐gingival tissues in a selective manner. Hydrophobic reactions have been suggested as one of the major mechanisms of adhesion. Hydrophobicity of Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans Y4 (Aa) cells was studied in vitro using adherence to the liquid hydrocarbon, octane. Adherence of Aa cells to octane varied from 60–90%, depending on the medium in which they were grown, age of the culture and the buffer in which the assay was carried out. These data suggest that Aa is a hydrophobic bacterium, the hydrophobicity of which is expressed to a varying degree, and may have a role in its adherence to oral tissues.