[Active forms of oxygen as a factor regulating surface characteristics of bacterial cells]

Effects of sublethal concentration of active forms of oxygen (hydrogen peroxide and hydroxyl radical) on cell surface properties of Escherichia coil, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, and Klebsiella pneumoniae were studied.

Hydrophobicity of cell surface measured by transition of cells from water phase to hydrocarbomic phase and by the ability of bacteria to sorb lysozyme and hemoglobin.

Treating of bacterial cells with hydroxyl radicals compared with hydrogen peroxide resulted in more marked decrease of bacteria's hydrophobicity and reduction of their ability to sorb on the surface the lysozyme and hemoglobin. Increasing of the number of R-forms in the bacterial population after contact with hydroxyl radicals was revealed.

Active forms of oxygen generated in biological systems in concentrations which are not lethal for majority of microorganisms can regulate prokaryote and eukaryote interactions by changing their surface characteristics and therefore they are an ecologic factor determining forming and existence of microbial cenoses.