Cell surface hydrophobicity of Actinomyces pyogenes determined by hexadecane adherence- and salt aggregation studies

Cell surface hydrophobicities of Actinomyces pyogenes were determined by measuring the adherence of the bacteria to hexadecane droplets and by salt aggregation tests. Among 42 A. pyogenes cultures tested 25 (60%) adhered strongly (adherence greater than or equal to 75%) and 17 (40%) less pronounced (adherence between 25-75%) to the hexadecane droplets. Pre-treatment of the bacteria with proteolytic enzymes completely eliminated the adherence properties whereas heat treatment had no effect. The salt aggregation studies revealed that 4 (10%) cultures aggregated in ammonium sulfate solutions of a molarity of 0.05 mol/l, 5 (12%), 14 (33%) and 3 (7%) cultures in ammonium sulfate solutions with molarities of greater than or equal to 1.5 mol/l, greater than or equal to 3 mol/l and greater than or equal to 4.5 mol/l, respectively. No aggregation at all could be observed with 16 (38%) of the cultures. Pronase treatment completely eliminated the salt aggregation reactions, trypsin- and heat treatment had no effect. The results from hexadecane adherence and salt aggregation did not correspond. The differences in surface hydrophobicities, possibly related to adherence properties of A. pyogenes, could be used for epidemiological typing of individual cultures of this bacterial species.