title: Quantitative study on the effect of calcium and magnesium palmitate on the formation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm.
abstract: Calcium palmitate and magnesium palmitate (which are major constituents of waste water) are insoluble precipitates that accumulate in bodies of water. This leads to the formation of biofilms because bacterial cells can use these fatty acid salts as a carbon source. It is important to study the formation of biofilms because they cause corrosion of pipelines and water contamination. In this study, the effect of calcium palmitate and magnesium palmitate on Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm formation has been evaluated. In the presence of calcium palmitate, the biofilm biomass, extracellular polysaccharide, and adhesion force were 3.45 ± 0.06 (A590), 1810 ± 47 μg, and 14.5 ± 0.9 nN, respectively. In the presence of magnesium palmitate, the biofilm biomass, extracellular polysaccharide, and adhesion force were 2.72 ± 0.03 (A590), 1370 ± 56 μg, and 8.0 ± 0.2 nN, respectively. The results suggest that biofilm biomass, extracellular polysaccharide, and adhesion force were higher in the presence of calcium palmitate.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, VNIT, Nagpur 440010, India. Electronic address: ashwink1981@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Ashwin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kannan
authors.affiliation: Centre for Biotechnology, Anna University, Chennai, India.
authors.forename: Subbalakshmi Latha
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Karumanchi
authors.affiliation: Centre for Biotechnology, Anna University, Chennai, India.
authors.forename: Subramaniam
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ramalingam
authors.affiliation: Centre for Biotechnology, Anna University, Chennai, India. Electronic address: pgautam@annauniv.edu.
authors.forename: Pennathur
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gautam
mesh_terms: D001422:Bacterial Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects*; D018441:Biofilms / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D002118:Calcium / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D008274:Magnesium / Q000737:chemistry; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D019308:Palmitic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D019308:Palmitic Acid; D008274:Magnesium; D002118:Calcium
keywords: Adhesion force; Biofilm; Biomass; Extracellular polysaccharide; Pseudomonas aeruginosa