The global regulatory hns gene negatively affects adhesion to solid surfaces by anaerobically grown Escherichia coli by modulating expression of flagellar genes and lipopolysaccharide production.

The initial binding of bacterial cells to a solid surface is a critical and essential step in biofilm formation. In this report we show that stationary-phase cultures of Escherichia coli W3100 (a K-12 strain) can efficiently attach to sand columns when they are grown in Luria broth medium at 28 degrees C in fully aerobic conditions. In contrast, growth in oxygen-limited conditions results in a sharp decrease in adhesion to hydrophilic substrates.

Modelling production of extracellular polymeric substances in a Pseudomonas aeruginosa chemostat culture.

Formation of extracellular polymeric substances (EPSs) by mucoid Pseudomonas aeruginosa was investigated using literature data from chemostat cultures. The data were used to calibrate a product formation regime allowing substrate sufficient and endogenous EPS formation. Yield coefficients for both formation conditions were elucidated based on metabolic pathway analysis.