The surface physicochemistry and adhesiveness of Shewanella are affected by their surface polysaccharides.
Shewanella strains have previously been studied with regard to their cell surface ultrastructure and LPS composition. They have now been further characterized with respect to their surface physicochemistry and ability to adhere to haematite. The surfaces of the Shewanella strains were found to be electronegative and hydrophilic, and these properties could be correlated with LPS composition or the presence of capsular polysaccharides. Strains expressing rough LPS with no capsule were more hydrophobic and electronegative than those possessing smooth LPS or capsules. By combining different approaches, such as contact-angle measurement, hydrophilic/hydrophobic chromatography, microelectrophoresis, adhesion assays and calculation of interaction energies, it was shown that electrostatic interactions predominate over hydrophobic interactions at the cell-iron oxide interface. Bacterial adhesion to haematite was significantly reduced in strains expressing smooth LPS or a capsule. These findings remained true for Shewanella strains grown under either aerobic or anaerobic conditions, although the surfaces of anaerobic cells appeared to be less electronegative and more hydrophilic than those of aerobic cells.
Korenevsky
Anton
A
Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology and Advanced Foods and Materials Network - Networks of Centres of Excellence, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada.
Beveridge
Terry J
TJ
Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology and Advanced Foods and Materials Network - Networks of Centres of Excellence, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada.
D000268:Adhesiveness; D001422:Bacterial Adhesion / Q000502:physiology*; D016667:Bacterial Capsules; D002845:Chromatography; D004121:Dimethyl Sulfoxide / Q000378:metabolism; D004560:Electricity; D004563:Electrochemistry; D005290:Ferric Compounds / Q000378:metabolism; D057927:Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; D007700:Kinetics; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000737:chemistry; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial / Q000737:chemistry*; D012685:Sepharose / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000378:metabolism; D020592:Shewanella / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D013499:Surface Properties
D005290:Ferric Compounds; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial; C000499:ferric oxide; C027176:octyl-sepharose CL-4B; D012685:Sepharose; D004121:Dimethyl Sulfoxide