Evaluation of the relative cell surface charge by using microbial adhesion to hydrocarbon

Abstract

A simple and rapid method, Microbial adhesion to hexadecane, for estimating the cell surface charge is proposed. This method is based on the determination of cell affinity to hexadecane at low ionic strength and at high ionic strength. The difference between these two affinities can provide the relative cell surface charge. The application of this method for Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli show that the profile of surface charge evolution as a function ofpH was similar to these obtained by microelectrophoresis method.