Identification of bacterial strains by laboratories participating in the Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum quality assurance programme

The quality assurance programme (QAP) of the Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum (DKFZ) is a proficiency testing system developed to service the laboratory animal discipline. QAP comprises the quarterly distribution of two bacterial strains originating from various species of animals for identification to the species level and antibiotic susceptibility testing. We compared identification results reported by QAP participants over the years 1996-2004 with those obtained by the Dutch Bacterial Diagnostics reference laboratory on 68 samples comprising 71 bacterial strains and a fungus. Significant differences were found in the frequency of reported and correct identifications when bacteria were assigned to different groups based on morphology by Gram stain and on origin (animal versus environmental, rodent and rabbit versus other animal species, pathogen versus non-pathogens). Rodent and rabbit pathogens yielded 73% correct identifications, and with all bacterial strains only 60% of the identifications were correct. We assume that most QAP participants were from laboratory animal diagnostic laboratories. If this is true, the capabilities of laboratories in the laboratory animal discipline to correctly identify bacterial species are well below what are considered acceptable limits for human diagnostic laboratories. The distribution of cultured bacteria circumvents the most difficult step in the microbiological monitoring of animals, namely primary culture from clinical samples. We propose to set up a QAP that comprises the distribution of specimens mimicking clinical samples normally submitted to laboratory animal diagnostic laboratories.     

临床常见革兰氏阳性球菌蛋白指纹库的构建

为建立临床常见革兰氏阳性球菌的蛋白指纹库,为快速鉴定这些细菌奠定基础,收集了从临床中分离获得的185株革兰氏阳性球菌,包括金黄色葡萄球菌、表皮葡萄球菌、溶血性葡萄球菌、粪肠球菌和屎肠球菌。将这些菌株分成建模组和验证组,利用表面增强激光解析电离飞行时间质谱检测细菌蛋白,用ProteinChip和Biomarker Wizard软件对建模组细菌数据进行分析,筛选出每种细菌各自稳定表达的蛋白峰,并将数据导入自建的Fingerwave软件建立了临床常见革兰氏阳性球菌的蛋白指纹库。随后,将验证组细菌的蛋白峰数据与蛋白指纹库中蛋白峰数据进行相似度分析,以评价其鉴定符合率。建立了包含5种临床常见革兰氏阳性球菌的蛋白指纹库,利用其对验证组菌株进行鉴定,与应用传统微生物学鉴定及分子生物学方法获得的鉴定结果的符合率为100%。结果表明,进一步扩大并完善革兰氏阳性球菌的蛋白指纹库,将为临床病原菌的快速鉴定提供可能。     

Characterization of culturable bacterial populations associating with Pinus sylvestris--Suillus bovinus mycorrhizospheres

Bacterial isolations were carried out on Pinus sylvestris--Suillus bovinus mycorrhizospheres obtained directly from boreal pine forest. When samples were taken during dry weather, the numbers of bacterial colony-forming units were significantly higher in uncolonized short roots and external mycelia than in mycorrhizal roots and soil outside the mycorrhizosphere. In contrast, the colony-forming unit counts were similar in all hypogeous samples after rainy weather. Culturable bacteria were absent from most Suillus bovinus sporocarps. The bacteria isolated from all types of mycorr hizo sphere samples, i.e. short roots, mycorrhizal roots, and external mycelia, consisted primarily of Burkholderia spp., whereas most isolates from soil outside the mycorrhizosphere were identified as Paenibacillus spp. This study shows that mycorrhizal external mycelia can expand the habitat favourable for common rhizosphere bacteria into the soil far from the immediate rhizosphere. Some of these bacteria may help the trees with nitrogen acquisition, since potentially diazotrophic bacteria harbouring nitrogenase reductase (nifH) genes were isolated from mycorrhizal root tips.     

临床病原菌种类及耐药性监测

目的 探讨病原菌种类及其对抗菌药物的耐的耐药状况。方法 收集１９９８年１月－１９９９年１２月临床感染标本分离的病原菌并分析其种类,药敏试验采用Ｋｉｒｂｙ－Ｂａｕｅｒ纸片扩散法。结果 １１８２株病原菌,革兰氏阳性球菌６０４株（５１．１％）,革兰氏阴性杆菌５７８株（４８．９％）。病原菌以金黄一萄球菌、大肠埃希菌、表皮葡萄球菌、铜绿假单胞菌最多见。去甲万古霉素、阿米卡星、新霉素对革兰氏阳性球菌抗菌作用较     

Culture-dependent bacteria in commercial fishes: Qualitative assessment and molecular identification using 16S rRNA gene sequencing

Fish contamination has been extensively investigated along the Saudi coasts, but studies pertaining to bacterial pathogens are scarce. We conducted qualitative assessment and molecular identification of culture-dependent bacteria in 13 fish species from three coastal sites and a local fish market in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Bacterial counts of gills, skin, gut and muscle were examined on agar plates of Macconkey’s (Mac), Eosin Methylene Blue (EMB) and Thiosulfate Citrate Bile Salts (TCBS) culture media. Bacterial counts significantly differed between species, sources and feeding habits of examined fishes. Mugil cephalus exhibited higher counts on TCBS (all body parts), Mac (gills, muscle and gut) and EMB (gills and muscle). Fishes from Area I had higher bacterial loads, coinciding with those in seawater and sediment from the same site, indicating direct association between habitat conditions and the levels of bacterial contamination. By feeding habit, detritivorous fish harbored higher counts than herbivorous and carnivorous species. Bacterial counts of skin were higher in fish from market than field sites, and positively correlated with other body parts indicating the relation of surface bacterial load on the overall quality of fish. Rahnella aquatilis (Enterobacteriaceae) and Photobacterium damselae (Vibrionaceae) were among the dominant species from fish muscle based on 16S rRNA sequencing. These species are known human pathogens capable of causing foodborne illness with severe antibiotic resistance. Opportunistic pathogens, e.g. Hafnia sp. (Enterobacteriaceae) and Pseudomonas stutzeri (Pseudomonadaceae) also occurred in fish muscle. The inclusion of bacterial contamination in future monitoring efforts is thus crucial.     

海水养殖场沉积物中硝酸盐还原菌种群分析

通过对福建省沿海海水养殖场沉积物中参与氮循环的各生理群细菌数量分析 ,发现氨化和硝酸盐还原细菌是优势生理菌群 ,同时 ,表层泥样中的硝酸盐还原菌数量明显高于深层泥样。从该环境中分离获得 106株细菌 ,其中 58株具有硝酸盐还原能力 ,初步鉴定表明它们主要为芽孢杆菌属 (Bacillus)、盐芽孢杆菌属 (Halobacillus)、短芽孢杆菌属 (Brevibacil lus)、动性球菌属 (Planococcus)和动性杆菌属 (Plano     

常见革兰阴性菌耐药性分析与合理用药研究

目的分析芜湖市第一人民医院革兰阴性病原菌分布情况及对常见抗菌药物的耐药程度,为临床抗菌药物的选择及其合理使用提供参考。方法收集2015年1月至2017年12月我院临床科室送检的细菌培养标本,采用法国生物梅里埃公司生产VITEK2compact全自动微生物分析系统及其配套试剂盒进行细菌鉴定及药敏试验,数据采用WHONET 5.6软件进行统计分析。对年度耐药株数使用R语言3.4.0软件进行分析。结果 2015-2017年我院共检出病原菌3 728株,其中革兰阳性菌1 055株,占28.3%;革兰阴性菌2 673株,占71.7%。革兰阴性菌中主要致病菌为大肠埃希菌、肺炎克雷伯菌、铜绿假单胞杆菌、鲍曼不动杆菌,对青霉素类和第一代头孢菌素类抗菌药物高水平耐药。2017年这4种细菌对头孢唑林的耐药率均已达100.0%。鲍曼不动杆菌对头孢曲松的耐药率逐年上升,对头孢替坦连续3年耐药率均为100.0%,对氨苄西林/舒巴坦、氟喹诺酮类以及头孢吡肟耐药率未逐年上升,对亚胺培南耐药率变化显著,差异均有统计学意义(P0.05)。铜绿假单胞杆菌对氨曲南耐药率逐年上升,对氨基糖苷类及头孢他啶耐药率逐年下降,差异均有统计学意义(P0.05)。大肠埃希菌和肺炎克雷伯菌对头孢吡肟耐药率逐年下降,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论我院住院患者病原菌以革兰阴性菌为主,不同病原菌对药物的敏感性各异,临床医生应结合患者情况和药敏结果综合分析,合理选用抗菌药物。     

慢性化脓性中耳炎患者耳道分泌物的病原菌检测及药物敏感性分析

目的分析慢性化脓性中耳炎(CSOM)患者耳道分泌物的病原菌分布及其药敏情况,为临床合理应用抗菌药物提供参考。方法收集浙江省立同德医院100例(116耳)CSOM患者耳道分泌物标本进行常规病原菌分离、鉴定及药敏试验。结果 116耳中有97耳培养出病原菌,检出率为83.6%。共检出病原菌103株,其中革兰阳性菌占53.4%(55/103),革兰阴性菌占41.7%(43/103),真菌占4.9%(5/103)。金黄色葡萄球菌和表皮葡萄球菌对青霉素和磺胺甲唑/甲氧苄啶耐药性较高,对利福平和莫西沙星敏感性较高,对呋喃妥因和万古霉素完全敏感。铜绿假单胞菌和肺炎克雷伯菌对头孢唑啉、氨苄西林、头孢吡肟、头孢曲松、哌拉西林/舒巴坦耐药性均较高,对妥布霉素、氨曲南、哌拉西林/他唑巴坦敏感性较高,对阿米卡星、美罗培南及亚胺培南完全敏感。真菌对氟胞嘧啶、两性霉素B及制霉菌素均敏感,而对酮康唑和氟康唑有一定的耐药性。结论 CSOM患者耳道分泌物中病原菌以金黄色葡萄球菌、表皮葡萄球菌、铜绿假单胞菌及肺炎克雷伯菌为主,这4种病原菌对多数常用抗菌药物有较强的耐药性,治疗时需根据细菌培养及药敏分析结果合理选用抗菌药物。     

Impact of an urban effluent on the bacterial community structure in the Arga River (Spain), with special reference to culturable gram-negative rods

The Arga River is an interesting system in which to study the impact of urban effluent pollution because it receives a single effluent in the form of wastewater discharge from the city of Pamplona. To analyze the extent of this discharge, total bacteria, culturable heterotrophic bacteria, and Gram-negative heterotrophic bacteria were enumerated and 409 isolates of the latter were identified. One sampling station was located upstream from the inflow, while five were located up to 30 km downstream. Bacterial counts increased drastically downstream from the wastewater inflow. Total bacterial numbers decreased along the 30 km downstream, the last station attaining similar values to those recorded upstream from the discharge. However, culturable heterotrophic and Gram-negative heterotrophic bacteria levels generally remained significantly higher within the 30 km zone investigated. Among the 409 isolates identified, Aeromonas spp. were the most frequent both upstream and downstream from the discharge. In contrast, although strains belonging to different genera of Enterobacteriaceae were found in all stations, their occurrence was significantly higher just downstream from the polluted discharge. Acinetobacter spp., which were never found upstream, were detected in all stations below the discharge. Our results clearly show that the bacterial community structure changes definitively downstream from the discharge and that Aeromonas were common throughout the sampling zone. Thus they cannot be considered good indicators of pollution in this setting compared to some genera of Enterobacteriaceae or some species of Acinetobacter, the distribution of which correlated better with the distance from the wastewater discharge.     

A survey on bacteria inhabiting the sea surface microlayer of coastal ecosystems

Bacterial populations inhabiting the sea surface microlayer from two contrasted Mediterranean coastal stations (polluted vs. oligotrophic) were examined by culturing and genetic fingerprinting methods and were compared with those of underlying waters (50 cm depth), for a period of two years. More than 30 samples were examined and 487 strains were isolated and screened. Proteobacteria were consistently more abundant in the collection from the pristine environment whereas Gram-positive bacteria (i.e., Actinobacteria and Firmicutes) were more abundant in the polluted site. Cythophaga-Flavobacter-Bacteroides (CFB) ranged from 8% to 16% of total strains. Overall, 22.5% of the strains showed a 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity only at the genus level with previously reported bacterial species and around 10.5% of the strains showed similarities in 16S rRNA sequence below 93% with reported species. The CFB group contained the highest proportion of unknown species, but these also included Alpha- and Gammaproteobacteria. Such low similarity values showed that we were able to culture new marine genera and possibly new families, indicating that the sea-surface layer is a poorly understood microbial environment and may represent a natural source of new microorganisms. Genetic fingerprinting showed, however, no consistent differences between the predominant bacterial assemblages from surface microlayer and underlying waters, suggesting that the presence of a stable and abundant neustonic bacterial community is not a common trait of coastal marine environments.     

Solubilization and bio-conjugation of quantum dots and bacterial toxicity assays by growth curve and plate count

Quantum dots (QDs) are fluorescent semiconductor nanoparticles with size-dependent emission spectra that can be excited by a broad choice of wavelengths. QDs have attracted a lot of interest for imaging, diagnostics, and therapy due to their bright, stable fluorescence. QDs can be conjugated to a variety of bio-active molecules for binding to bacteria and mammalian cells. QDs are also being widely investigated as cytotoxic agents for targeted killing of bacteria. The emergence of multiply-resistant bacterial strains is rapidly becoming a public health crisis, particularly in the case of Gram negative pathogens. Because of the well-known antimicrobial effect of certain nanomaterials, especially Ag, there are hundreds of studies examining the toxicity of nanoparticles to bacteria. Bacterial studies have been performed with other types of semiconductor nanoparticles as well, especially TiO(2), but also ZnO and others including CuO. Some comparisons of bacterial strains have been performed in these studies, usually comparing a Gram negative strain with a Gram positive. With all of these particles, mechanisms of toxicity are attributed to oxidation: either the photogeneration of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by the particles or the direct release of metal ions that can cause oxidative toxicity. Even with these materials, results of different studies vary greatly. In some studies the Gram positive test strain is reportedly more sensitive than the Gram negative; in others it is the opposite. These studies have been well reviewed. In all nanoparticle studies, particle composition, size, surface chemistry, sample aging/breakdown, and wavelength, power, and duration of light exposure can all dramatically affect the results. In addition, synthesis byproducts and solvents must be considered. High-throughput screening techniques are needed to be able to develop effective new nanomedicine agents. CdTe QDs have anti-microbial effects alone or in combination with antibiotics. In a previous study, we showed that coupling of antibiotics to CdTe can increase toxicity to bacteria but decrease toxicity to mammalian cells, due to decreased production of reactive oxygen species from the conjugates. Although it is unlikely that cadmium-containing compounds will be approved for use in humans, such preparations could be used for disinfection of surfaces or sterilization of water. In this protocol, we give a straightforward approach to solubilizing CdTe QDs with mercaptopropionic acid (MPA). The QDs are ready to use within an hour. We then demonstrate coupling to an antimicrobial agent. The second part of the protocol demonstrates a 96-well bacterial inhibition assay using the conjugated and unconjugated QDs. The optical density is read over many hours, permitting the effects of QD addition and light exposure to be evaluated immediately as well as after a recovery period. We also illustrate a colony count for quantifying bacterial survival.     

Correction to: Intracellular bacteria are common and taxonomically diverse in cultured and in hospite algal endosymbionts of coral reefs

Corals house a variety of microorganisms which they depend on for their survival, including endosymbiotic dinoflagellates (Symbiodiniaceae) and bacteria. While cnidarian–microorganism interactions are widely studied, Symbiodiniaceae–bacteria interactions are only just beginning to receive attention. Here, we describe the localization and composition of the bacterial communities associated with cultures of 11 Symbiodiniaceae strains from nine species and six genera. Three-dimensional confocal laser scanning and electron microscopy revealed bacteria are present inside the Symbiodiniaceae cells as well as closely associated with their external cell surface. Bacterial pure cultures and 16S rRNA gene metabarcoding from Symbiodiniaceae cultures highlighted distinct and highly diverse bacterial communities occur intracellularly, closely associated with the Symbiodiniaceae outer cell surface and loosely associated (i.e., in the surrounding culture media). The intracellular bacteria are highly conserved across Symbiodiniaceae species, suggesting they may be involved in Symbiodiniaceae physiology. Our findings provide unique new insights into the biology of Symbiodiniaceae.Subject terms: Symbiosis, Microbiome, Marine microbiology     

Bacterial 16S rRNA Gene Analysis Revealed That Bacteria Related to Arcobacter spp. Constitute an Abundant and Common Component of the Oyster Microbiota (Tiostrea chilensis)

To explore the bacterial microbiota in Chilean oyster (Tiostrea chilensis), a molecular approach that permits detection of different bacteria, independently of their capacity to grow in culture media, was used. Bacterial diversity was assessed by analysis of both the 16S rDNA and the 16S-23S intergenic region, obtained by PCR amplifications of DNA extracted from depurated oysters. RFLP of the PCR amplified 16S rDNA showed a prevailing pattern in most of the individuals analyzed, indicating that a few bacterial species were relatively abundant and common in oysters. Cloning and sequencing of the 16S rDNA with the prevailing RFLP pattern indicated that this rRNA was most closely related to Arcobacter spp. However, analysis by the size of the amplified 16S-23S rRNA intergenic regions revealed not Arcobacter spp. but Staphylococcus spp. related bacteria as a major and common component in oyster. These different results may be caused by the absence of target for one of the primers employed for amplification of the intergenic region. Neither of the two bacteria species found in large abundance was recovered after culturing under aerobic, anaerobic, or microaerophilic conditions. This result, however, is expected because the number of bacteria recovered after cultivation was less than 0.01% of the total. All together, these observations suggest that Arcobacter-related strains are probably abundant and common in the Chilean oyster bacterial microbiota.     

An in vivo polymicrobial biofilm wound infection model to study interspecies interactions

Chronic wound infections are typically polymicrobial; however, most in vivo studies have focused on monospecies infections. This project was designed to develop an in vivo, polymicrobial, biofilm-related, infected wound model in order to study multispecies biofilm dynamics and in relation to wound chronicity. Multispecies biofilms consisting of both Gram negative and Gram positive strains, as well as aerobes and anaerobes, were grown in vitro and then transplanted onto the wounds of mice. These in vitro-to-in vivo multi-species biofilm transplants generated polymicrobial wound infections, which remained heterogeneous with four bacterial species throughout the experiment. We observed that wounded mice given multispecies biofilm infections displayed a wound healing impairment over mice infected with a single-species of bacteria. In addition, the bacteria in the polymicrobial wound infections displayed increased antimicrobial tolerance in comparison to those in single species infections. These data suggest that synergistic interactions between different bacterial species in wounds may contribute to healing delays and/or antibiotic tolerance.     

Utility of Microcosm Studies for Predicting Phylloplane Bacterium Population Sizes in the Field

Population sizes of two ice nucleation-active strains of Pseudomonas syringae were compared on leaves in controlled environments and in the field to determine the ability of microcosm studies to predict plant habitat preferences in the field. The P. syringae strains investigated were the parental strains of recombinant deletion mutant strains deficient in ice nucleation activity that had been field tested for their ability to control plant frost injury. The population size of the P. syringae strains was measured after inoculation at three field locations on up to 40 of the same plant species that were studied in the growth chamber. There was seldom a significant relationship between the mean population size of a given P. syringae strain incubated under either wet or dry conditions in microcosms and the mean population size which could be recovered from the same species when inoculated in the field. Specifically, on some plant species, the population size recovered from leaves in the field was substantially greater than from that species in a controlled environment, while for other plant species field populations were significantly smaller than those observed under controlled conditions. Population sizes of inoculated P. syringae strains, however, were frequently highly positively correlated with the indigenous bacterial population size on the same plant species in the field, suggesting that the ability of a particular plant species to support introduced bacterial strains is correlated with its ability to support large bacterial populations or that indigenous bacteria enhance the survival of introduced strains. Microcosm studies therefore seem most effective at assessing possible differences between parental and recombinant strains under a given environmental regime but are limited in their ability to predict the specific population sizes or plant habitat preferences of bacteria on leaves under field conditions.     

Molecular phylogeny of the genus Dactylopius (Hemiptera: Dactylopiidae) and identification of the symbiotic bacteria

Phylogenetic analyses, from polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-amplified 12S rRNA and 18S rRNA gene sequences from cochineal insects of the genus Dactylopius present in Mexico, showed that D. ceylonicus, D. confusus, and D. opuntiae are closely related. D. coccus constitutes a separate clade, and D. tomentosus is the most distantly related. Bacterial 16S rRNA sequences from all the Dactylopius species sampled showed a common β-proteobacteria, related to Azoarcus, also found in eggs and in bacteriocytes in D. coccus. We propose the name "Candidatus Dactylopiibacterium carminicum" for this endosymbiont. Other bacterial sequences recovered from the samples were close to those from soil or plant associated bacteria, like Massilia, Herbaspirillum, Acinetobacter, Mesorhizobium, and Sphingomonas, suggesting a possible horizontal transmission from Cactaceae plant sap to Dactylopius spp. during feeding. This is the first molecular analysis of Dactylopius species and of their associated bacteria.     

Autochthonous bacterial flora indicated by PCR-DGGE of 16S rRNA gene fragments from the alimentary tract of Costelytra zealandica (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae)

Aims: To locate and identify putative autochthonous bacteria within the grass grub gut that may have a role in symbiosis. Methods and Results: Polymerase chain reaction-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) fingerprinting was used to investigate bacterial diversity in the grass grub larval gut. The microbial community profiles from five geographically distinct populations were compared and the influence of feeding was analysed. Bacterial community in the midgut was highly variable between locations and was affected by feeding. The hindgut contained a more diverse but stable bacterial community that was less affected by external conditions. Forty-seven distinct DGGE bands, representing different bacterial genotypes, could be distinguished from all samples, with 34 different bands occurring in the hindgut. The 22 most common bands were isolated and DNA was sequenced. Sequence analysis revealed that most bacteria (16/22) were affiliated to the Clostridiales with the predominant bacteria affiliated to the genus Clostridium. The remaining bacteria were aligned to the Betaproteobacteria, Deltaproteobacteria and Bacteroidetes. Conclusions: The grass grub larva has an autochthonous microflora with predominance of Clostridium spp. in the hindgut. Significance and Impact of the Study: Occurrence of an autocthonous microflora in the grass grub hindgut suggests a symbiotic relationship which could help explain the ability of larval scarabs to feed on recalcitrant organic matter.     

Effects of Hydrophobic and Electrostatic Cell Surface Properties of Bacteria on Feeding Rates of Heterotrophic Nanoflagellates

The influence of cell surface hydrophobicity and electrostatic charge of bacteria on grazing rates of three common species of interception-feeding nanoflagellates was examined. The hydrophobicity of bacteria isolated from freshwater plankton was assessed by using two different methods (bacterial adhesion to hydrocarbon and hydrophobic interaction chromatography). The electrostatic charge of the cell surface (measured as zeta potential) was analyzed by microelectrophoresis. Bacterial ingestion rates were determined by enumerating bacteria in food vacuoles by immunofluorescence labelling via strain-specific antibodies. Feeding rates varied about twofold for each flagellate species but showed no significant dependence on prey hydrophobicity or surface charge. Further evidence was provided by an experiment involving flagellate grazing on complex bacterial communities in a two-stage continuous culture system. The hydrophobicity values of bacteria that survived protozoan grazing were variable, but the bacteria did not tend to become more hydrophilic. We concluded that variability in bacterial cell hydrophobicity and variability in surface charge do not severely affect uptake rates of suspended bacteria or food selection by interception-feeding flagellates.     

Effects of hydrophobic and electrostatic cell surface properties of bacteria on feeding rates of heterotrophic nanoflagellates

The influence of cell surface hydrophobicity and electrostatic charge of bacteria on grazing rates of three common species of interception-feeding nanoflagellates was examined. The hydrophobicity of bacteria isolated from freshwater plankton was assessed by using two different methods (bacterial adhesion to hydrocarbon and hydrophobic interaction chromatography). The electrostatic charge of the cell surface (measured as zeta potential) was analyzed by microelectrophoresis. Bacterial ingestion rates were determined by enumerating bacteria in food vacuoles by immunofluorescence labelling via strain-specific antibodies. Feeding rates varied about twofold for each flagellate species but showed no significant dependence on prey hydrophobicity or surface charge. Further evidence was provided by an experiment involving flagellate grazing on complex bacterial communities in a two-stage continuous culture system. The hydrophobicity values of bacteria that survived protozoan grazing were variable, but the bacteria did not tend to become more hydrophilic. We concluded that variability in bacterial cell hydrophobicity and variability in surface charge do not severely affect uptake rates of suspended bacteria or food selection by interception-feeding flagellates.     

Bacterial migration along solid surfaces.

An in vitro system was developed to study the migration of uropathogenic Escherichia coli strains. In this system an aqueous agar gel is placed against a solid surface, allowing the bacteria to migrate along the gel/solid surface interface. Bacterial strains as well as solid surfaces were characterized by means of water contact angle and zeta potential measurements. When glass was used as the solid surface, significantly different migration times for the strains investigated were observed. Relationships among the observed migration times of six strains, their contact angles, and their zeta potentials were found. Relatively hydrophobic strains exhibited migration times shorter than those of hydrophilic strains. For highly negatively charged strains shorter migration times were found than were found for less negatively charged strains. When the fastest-migrating strain with respect to glass was allowed to migrate along solid surfaces differing in hydrophobicity and charge, no differences in migration times were found. Our findings indicate that strategies to prevent catheter-associated bacteriuria should be based on inhibition of bacterial growth rather than on modifying the physicochemical character of the catheter surface.