How microorganisms use hydrophobicity and what does this mean for human needs?

Cell surface hydrophobicity (CSH) plays a crucial role in the attachment to, or detachment from the surfaces. The influence of CSH on adhesion of microorganisms to biotic and abiotic surfaces in medicine as well as in bioremediation and fermentation industry has both negative and positive aspects. H...

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Published inFrontiers in cellular and infection microbiology Vol. 4; p. 112
Main Authors Krasowska, Anna, Sigler, Karel
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Switzerland Frontiers Media S.A 2014
Subjects
Adhesion
Adhesiveness
Bacteria - pathogenicity
Bacterial Adhesion
Bacterial Physiological Phenomena
bioremediation
cell surface
Fungi - pathogenicity
Fungi - physiology
Humans
Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions
hydrophobicity
Microbiology
pathogens
cell surface
bioremediation
hydrophobicity
adhesion
pathogens
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Summary:Cell surface hydrophobicity (CSH) plays a crucial role in the attachment to, or detachment from the surfaces. The influence of CSH on adhesion of microorganisms to biotic and abiotic surfaces in medicine as well as in bioremediation and fermentation industry has both negative and positive aspects. Hydrophobic microorganisms cause the damage of surfaces by biofilm formation; on the other hand, they can readily accumulate on organic pollutants and decompose them. Hydrophilic microorganisms also play a considerable role in removing organic wastes from the environment because of their high resistance to hydrophobic chemicals. Despite the many studies on the environmental and metabolic factors affecting CSH, the knowledge of this subject is still scanty and is in most cases limited to observing the impact of hydrophobicity on adhesion, aggregation or flocculation. The future of research seems to lie in finding a way to managing the microbial adhesion process, perhaps by steering cell hydrophobicity.
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This article was submitted to the journal Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology.
Edited by: Kevin Bradley Clark, Veterans Affairs Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, USA
Reviewed by: Michael Shapira, University of California, Berkeley, USA; Valerio Iebba, “Sapienza” University of Rome, Italy
ISSN:2235-2988
2235-2988
DOI:10.3389/fcimb.2014.00112