Membrane filter (pore size, 0.22-0.45 micro m; thickness, 150 micro m) passing-through activity of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and other bacterial species with indigenous infiltration ability.
Bacteria growing on MF-Millipore filters (thickness, 150 micro m) passed through the underlying membrane by their infiltration activity. Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Escherichia coli passed through a 0.45- micro m pore size filter within 48-96 h. Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Serratia marcescens, and Listeria monocytogenes passed through a 0.3- micro m pore size filter. P. aeruginosa passed through a 0.22- micro m pore size filter. The membranes which allowed passing-through of bacteria showed normal bubble point values in the integrity test. Studies with isogenic S. marcescens mutants indicated that flagellum-dependent motility or surface-active exolipid were important in the passing-through. P. aeruginosa PAO1 C strain defective in twitching motility was unable to pass through the 0.22- micro m filter. Scanning electron microscopy showed bacteria passing-through the 0.22- micro m filter. Millipore membrane filters having well-defined reticulate structures will be useful in the study of infiltration activity of microbes.
Hasegawa
Hiroyuki
H
Department of Applied Biological Chemistry, Faculty of Agriculture, Niigata University, 950-2181, Niigata, Japan.
Naganuma
Kouta
K
Nakagawa
Yoji
Y
Matsuyama
Tohey
T
D000362:Agar; D018441:Biofilms; D005374:Filtration / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000254:growth & development*; D013242:Sterilization / Q000295:instrumentation*
D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D000362:Agar