Electron Microscopic Study of the Adherence Properties of <i>Lactobacillus acidophilus</i>

Abstract

ABSTRACT Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were used to observe the means by which three strains of Lactobacillus acidophilus adhere to surfaces. When observed with SEM, all strains adhered to glass coverslips; however, no attachment fibrils were seen. When viewed with TEM, strain BG2F04 showed a polysaccharide (PS) material outside the cell wall. This strain had previously been shown to adhere strongly to human intestinal tissue cells, while strain Lac 12 had shown weak adherence, and strain NCFM did not adhere. The PS layer on strain Lac 12 was variable, and a PS layer on NCFM could not be seen. These observations suggested that this PS material may be involved in the adherence of strain BG2F04 to surfaces.