The effects of phenotype variability on the adhesion properties of Deleya marina

A study has been made of the effects of phenotype variability on the adhesion properties of the Deleya marina type strain (ATCC 25374) and its exopolysaccharide‐deficient mutant D. marina R. Like the parental strain, the mutant is nonflagellated, glides on semisolid medium, and subsequently exhibits a phenotype variation from gliding to swimming motility. The frequency of the phenotype variation was, however, reduced in the mutant from that observed in the parental strain. Swimming isolates of mutant and parental strains produced adhesion assay profiles that are qualitatively identical to their nonswimming counterparts. The types of substrata colonized as well as the effects of growth temperature and chemical inhibitors upon attachment reflect the presence or absence of exopolysaccharide. However, under turbulent conditions the presence of flagella increased the adsorption of mutant cells. A hypothetical model linking the variable phenotypic properties of D. marina to surface colonization is presented.

Key words:

• biofouling
• adhesion
• phenotype variation
• fiagella
• gliding
• exopolysaccharide

Notes

Corressponding author