Relationship between cell surface properties and transport of bacteria through soil

Journal Article · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1991 · Applied and Environmental Microbiology; (USA)

OSTI ID:5586203

Gannon, J T; Manilal, V B; Alexander, M ^[1]

---

1. Cornell Univ., Ithaca, NY (USA)

One means of bringing about the remediation of underground sites containing polluting chemicals is to inoculate the sites with bacteria able to metabolize those compounds. However, successful bioremediation of such sites requires the movement of the biodegradative bacteria through soil, aquifer solids, or groundwater. A study was conducted to relate the properties of Enterobacter, Pseudomonas, Bacillus, Achromobacter, Flavobacterium, and Arthrobacter strains to their transport with water moving through soil. The bacteria differed markedly in their extent of transport; their hydrophobicity, as measured by adherence to n-octane and by hydrophobic-interaction chromatography; and their net surface electrostatic charge, as determined by electrostatic interaction chromatography and by measurements of the zeta potential. Transport of the 19 strains through Kendaia loam or their retention by this soil was not correlated with hydrophobicities or net surface charges of the cells or the presence of capsules. Among 10 strains tested, the presence of flagella was also not correlated with transport. Retention was statistically related to cell size, with bacteria shorter than 1.0 {mu}m usually showing higher percentages of cells being transported through the soil. We suggest that more than one characteristic of bacterial cells determines whether the organisms are transported through soil with moving water.

• OSTI ID: 5586203
• Journal Information: Applied and Environmental Microbiology; (USA), Journal Name: Applied and Environmental Microbiology; (USA) Vol. 57:1; ISSN 0099-2240; ISSN AEMID
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

09 BIOMASS FUELS
099000 -- Biomass Fuels-- Products & By-Products-- (1990-)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540210* -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Basic Studies-- (1990-)
BACILLUS
BACTERIA
BIODEGRADATION
CELL CONSTITUENTS
CELL WALL
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DECOMPOSITION
MICROORGANISMS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
POLLUTANTS
PSEUDOMONAS
SOILS
SURFACE PROPERTIES