Atomic force microscopy measurements of bacterial adhesion and biofilm formation onto clay-sized particles.

ABSTRACT: Bacterial adhesion onto mineral surfaces and subsequent biofilm formation play key roles in aggregate stability, mineral weathering, and the fate of contaminants in soils. However, the mechanisms of bacteria-mineral interactions are not fully understood. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) was used to determine the adhesion forces between bacteria and goethite in water and to gain insight into the nanoscale surface morphology of the bacteria-mineral aggregates and biofilms formed on clay-sized minerals. This study yields direct evidence of a range of different association mechanisms between bacteria and minerals. All strains studied adhered predominantly to the edge surfaces of kaolinite rather than to the basal surfaces. Bacteria rarely formed aggregates with montmorillonite, but were more tigh

SUBMITTER: Huang Q 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4653644 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature