Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Adherens Junctions01:24

Adherens Junctions

5.8K
Strong contact points between adjacent cells anchor them to each other, forming tissues. Such anchoring junctions are of two types –  adherens junctions and desmosomes. Adherens junctions are abundant in tissues such as  epithelium and endothelium, forming a continuous zone of adhesion called the adhesion belt. In other tissues, such as  heart muscle, they appear as clusters, linking the cells to produce coordinated heart muscle contraction.
Adherens Junctions are Dynamic
5.8K
Adhesion01:14

Adhesion

37.0K
Adhesion occurs when one type of molecule is attracted to a different molecule. Water exhibits adhesive properties in the presence of polar surfaces, such as glass or cellulose in plants. For instance, when water is poured into a glass, the positively charged hydrogen molecules of water are more attracted to the negatively charged oxygen molecules in the silica than to the oxygen in neighboring water molecules.
Capillary action is a result of water’s adhesive tendencies. When a narrow...
37.0K
Cell Adhesion in Plants01:14

Cell Adhesion in Plants

2.4K
Plants have rigid cell walls that are made up of cell wall polysaccharides that mediate cell-cell adhesion. The primary cell walls of plants consist of two independent and interacting polysaccharide networks: a pectin matrix that embeds the second network comprising cellulose and hemicelluloses.
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,...
2.4K
Tension Response at Adherens Junctions01:26

Tension Response at Adherens Junctions

3.2K
The adherens junctions that anchor cells together are multi-protein complexes that dynamically adapt to mechanical stimuli such as tensile forces and shear stress. Mechanosensory proteins in these junctions can sense such mechanical stimuli and undergo a shift in their conformation, resulting in an altered function — a process called mechanotransduction.
α-Catenin as a Mechanosensory Protein
The α-catenin of adherens junctions is an allosteric protein with three VH (vinculin...
3.2K
Cell Adhesion Molecules - Types and Functions01:20

Cell Adhesion Molecules - Types and Functions

8.1K
Cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) are pivotal to multicellularity and the coordinated functioning of tissues and organ systems. They enable physical interactions between cells and provide mechanical strength to tissues. They also function as receptors for signal transmission across the plasma membrane. The CAMs are broadly classified into four families - integrins, cadherins, selectins, and immunoglobulin-like CAMs (IgCAMs).
CAM Families
The Integrin family of proteins is primarily  involved...
8.1K
Colonisation of Pathogens01:25

Colonisation of Pathogens

80
Pathogen colonization of host tissues is a critical step in the development of infectious diseases. Various pathogenic microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi, viruses, and protozoa, have evolved complex strategies to attach to, invade, and persist within host environments. These mechanisms enable pathogens to establish infections, evade immune responses, and resist antimicrobial treatments.Attachment to Host CellsIn bacteria, colonization typically begins with adherence to host epithelial...
80

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Double Layer of a Gold Electrode Probed by AFM Force Measurements.

Langmuir : the ACS journal of surfaces and colloids·2016
Same author

Diverging electrophoretic and dynamic mobility of model silica colloids at low ionic strength in ethanol.

Journal of colloid and interface science·2014
Same author

Comparison of Reductive Dechlorination of Hexachloro-1,3-butadiene in Rhine Sediment and Model Systems with Hydroxocobalamin.

Environmental science & technology·2011
Same author

On the stability of the polymer brushes formed by adsorption of ionomer complexes on hydrophilic and hydrophobic surfaces.

Journal of colloid and interface science·2010
Same author

Resolution of D- and L-glucoses by chiral N-octyl-beta-D-glycoside-Cu(II) complex adsorbed at the gas/liquid interface of small bubbles.

Colloids and surfaces. B, Biointerfaces·2010
Same author

Quest for ion-ion correlations in electric double layers and overcharging phenomena.

Advances in colloid and interface science·2009

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 6, 2026

Biomimetic Materials to Characterize Bacteria-host Interactions
12:22

Biomimetic Materials to Characterize Bacteria-host Interactions

Published on: November 16, 2015

12.4K

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.

Microbial Ecology
|November 8, 2013
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Bacterial adhesion to surfaces is reversible and predictable using the DLVO theory, which considers electrostatic and Van der Waals forces. Increased salt concentration enhances bacterial adhesion to polystyrene surfaces.

More Related Videos

Introducing Shear Stress in the Study of Bacterial Adhesion
13:28

Introducing Shear Stress in the Study of Bacterial Adhesion

Published on: September 2, 2011

19.1K
In Vitro Assay of Bacterial Adhesion onto Mammalian Epithelial Cells
05:57

In Vitro Assay of Bacterial Adhesion onto Mammalian Epithelial Cells

Published on: May 16, 2011

25.5K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 6, 2026

Biomimetic Materials to Characterize Bacteria-host Interactions
12:22

Biomimetic Materials to Characterize Bacteria-host Interactions

Published on: November 16, 2015

12.4K
Introducing Shear Stress in the Study of Bacterial Adhesion
13:28

Introducing Shear Stress in the Study of Bacterial Adhesion

Published on: September 2, 2011

19.1K
In Vitro Assay of Bacterial Adhesion onto Mammalian Epithelial Cells
05:57

In Vitro Assay of Bacterial Adhesion onto Mammalian Epithelial Cells

Published on: May 16, 2011

25.5K

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Colloid and Surface Science
  • Physical Chemistry

Background:

  • Bacterial adhesion to surfaces is a critical process in many environments, influencing biofilm formation and microbial ecology.
  • Understanding the forces governing bacterial adhesion is essential for controlling microbial populations and preventing contamination.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the physicochemical mechanisms of bacterial adhesion to solid surfaces.
  • To quantitatively describe bacterial adhesion using established theories of colloidal stability.
  • To determine the energetic basis of bacterial adhesion and its environmental implications.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized a physicochemical approach to study bacterial adhesion to negatively charged polystyrene surfaces.
  • Applied the Derjaguin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek (DLVO) theory to model adhesion forces, including Van der Waals and electrostatic interactions.
  • Varied electrolyte strength to assess its influence on adhesion and estimated adhesion Gibbs energy from adhesion isotherms.

Main Results:

  • Bacterial adhesion to negatively charged polystyrene was found to be reversible.
  • Adhesion strength increased with increasing electrolyte concentration.
  • The DLVO theory accurately described the observed adhesion, indicating interactions primarily in the secondary minimum.
  • Estimated adhesion Gibbs energy was low (2-3 kT per cell).

Conclusions:

  • Bacterial adhesion to polystyrene is governed by DLVO interactions and is sensitive to electrolyte concentration.
  • The findings suggest that bacteria adhere to surfaces in a weakly bound state (secondary minimum) under studied conditions.
  • These insights are crucial for understanding bacterial behavior and adhesion in natural and engineered environments.