Factors Influencing the Adhesion of Microorganisms to Surfaces

Abstract

Starvation, growth phase, and carbon source influenced bacterial cell surface hydrophobicity. Both the number and kind of microorganisms that colonized metal surfaces depended on the type of metal and the presence of an imposed electrical potential. No significant differences in attachment and growth of a pure culture were observed when metal surfaces were dipped in an exogenous energy source. The chemical composition of naturally occurring adsorbed organic films on metal surfaces was shown to be independent of surface composition and polarization.

Key Words:

• Adhesion
• bioadhesion
• cell surface hydrophobicity
• metal surfaces
• surface composition
• surface polarization.