Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 6, 2026

Biomimetic Materials to Characterize Bacteria-host Interactions
Published on: November 16, 2015
Bacterial adhesion: A physicochemical approach
M C van Loosdrecht1, J Lyklema, W Norde
1Department of Microbiology, Agricultural University, Hesselink van Suchtelenweg 4, 6703, CT Wageningen, The Netherlands.
Abstract:
The adhesion of bacteria to solid surfaces was studied using a physicochemical approach. Adhesion to negatively charged polystyrene was found to be reversible and could be described quantitatively using the DLVO theory for colloidal stability, i.e., in terms of Van der Waals and electrostatic interactions. The influence of the latter was assessed by varying the electrolyte strength. Adhesion increased with increasing electrolyte strength. The adhesion Gibbs energy for a bacterium and a negatively charged polystyrene surface was estimated from adhesion isotherms and was found to be 2-3 kT per cell. This low value corresponds to an adhesion in the secondary minimum of interaction as described by the DLVO theory. The consequences of these findings for adhesion in the natural environment are discussed.
Related Concept Videos
Adherens Junctions
Adherens Junctions are Dynamic
Adhesion
Capillary action is a result of water’s adhesive tendencies. When a narrow...
Cell Adhesion in Plants
Pectins are complex heteropolymers mainly composed of negatively-charged α-D-glucopyranosyl uronic acid and some neutral glycosyl residues such as α-L-rhamnopyranose, α-L-arabinofuranose,...
Tension Response at Adherens Junctions
α-Catenin as a Mechanosensory Protein
The α-catenin of adherens junctions is an allosteric protein with three VH (vinculin...
Cell Adhesion Molecules - Types and Functions
CAM Families
The Integrin family of proteins is primarily involved...
Colonisation of Pathogens

