Prior research has recognized that solid surface properties influence the metabolic activity of adhered bacteria and the reasons for this remain elusive. Activity may be enhanced, promoting bacterial colonization and biofilm formation, or activity may be inhibited, resulting in decreased colonization and possibly cell death. To address this uncertainty we are developing a hypothesis that bacteria utilize a link between the physiochemical charge-regulation effect, which results in changes in surface pH and charge as bacteria approach another surface, and cellular bioenergetics, which drives the formation of adenosine triphosphate (ATP, the main energy carrier in living organisms) through the development of a proton gradient across the cytoplasmic membrane. To explore this hypothesis, we are examining ATP levels of bacteria attached to multiple surfaces, with each surface having a different predicted metabolic response.  We will present results that establish that the variation in cellular ATP levels follows that predicted by the hypothesis.

Impact of surface functional groups on the metabolic activity of adhered bacteria

244th National Meeting (2012)

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