[Factors affecting adhesion of Cytophaga hutchinsonii to cellulose].

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the study was to understand the mechanism of Cytophaga hutchinsonii adhension to cellulose.

METHODS

The effects of different factors on the bacterial adhesion to cellulose were studied, including bacterial age, pH, temperature, cell surface charge, cell viability, cell surface protein, extracellular polysaccharides, and cellulose derivates.

RESULTS

Treatments with heat and protease reduced the adhesion remarkably. But treatments with NaN3, formalin, glutaraldehyde, Congo red and NaIO4 had only slight effect on the adhesion. The adhension of Cytophaga hutchinsonii cells to microcrystalline cellulose was specific and not inhibited by cellobiose or carboxymethyl cellulose.

CONCLUSION

The adhesion of Cytophaga hutchinsonii to cellulose was closely related to cell surface proteins, while cellular metabolic activity and extracellular polysaccharides had only slight effect on it. It is speculated that there might be some specific cellulose binding proteins on the cell surface.