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Applied and Environmental Microbiology, August 2002, p. 3855-3858, Vol. 68, No. 8
0099-2240/02/$04.00+0     DOI: 10.1128/AEM.68.8.3855-3858.2002
Copyright © 2002, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Adhesion to Bile Drain Materials and Physicochemical Surface Properties of Enterococcus faecalis Strains Grown in the Presence of Bile

Karola Waar,1* Henny C. van der Mei,2 Hermie J. M. Harmsen,1 John E. Degener,1 and Henk J. Busscher2

Department of Medical Microbiology,1 Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Groningen, 9713 GZ Groningen, The Netherlands2

Received 21 February 2002/ Accepted 16 May 2002

The aim of this study is to determine whether growth in the presence of bile influences the surface properties and adhesion to hydrophobic bile drain materials of Enterococcus faecalis strains expressing aggregation substance (Agg) or enterococcal surface protein (Esp), two surface proteins that are associated with infections. After growth in the presence of bile, the strains were generally more hydrophobic by water contact angles and the zeta potentials were more negative than when the strains were grown in the absence of bile. Nitrogen was found in lower surface concentrations upon growth in the presence of bile, whereas higher surface concentrations of oxygen were measured by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Moreover, an up to twofold-higher number of bacteria adhered after growth in bile for E. faecalis not expressing Agg or Esp and E. faecalis with Esp on its surface. E. faecalis expressing Agg did not adhere in higher numbers after growth in bile, possibly because they mainly adhere through positive cooperativity and less through direct interactions with a substratum surface. Since adhesion of bacteria is the first step in biomaterial-centered infection, it can be concluded that growth in bile increases the virulence of E. faecalis.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, P.O. Box 30.001, 9700 RB Groningen, The Netherlands. Phone: 31-50-3633510. Fax: 31-50-3633528. E-mail: k.waar{at}med.rug.nl.

Applied and Environmental Microbiology, August 2002, p. 3855-3858, Vol. 68, No. 8
0099-2240/02/$04.00+0     DOI: 10.1128/AEM.68.8.3855-3858.2002
Copyright © 2002, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.



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