Institute for Cellular and Intracellular Symbiosis, Orenburg, Russia
Aim. Effects of sublethal concentration of active forms of oxygen (hydrogen peroxide and hydroxyl radical) on cell surface properties of Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, and Klebsiella pneumoniae were studied. Materials and methods. 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. Results. 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. Conclusion. 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.
Zh. Mikrobiol. (Moscow), 2008, No. 4, P. 3—6