Timescales and Frequencies of Reversible and Irreversible Adhesion Events of Single Bacterial Cells.

ABSTRACT: In the environment, most bacteria form surface-attached cell communities called biofilms. The attachment of single cells to surfaces involves an initial reversible stage typically mediated by surface structures such as flagella and pili, followed by a permanent adhesion stage usually mediated by polysaccharide adhesives. Here, we determine the absolute and relative timescales and frequencies of reversible and irreversible adhesion of single cells of the bacterium Caulobacter crescentus to a glass surface in a microfluidic device. We used fluorescence microscopy of C. crescentus expressing green fluorescent protein to track the swimming behavior of individual cells prior to adhesion, monitor the cell at the surface, and determine whether the cell reversibly or irreversibly adhered to the su

SUBMITTER: Hoffman MD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4756760 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature