Physico-chemistry of initial microbial adhesive interactions - its mechanisms and methods for study

In this review, initial microbial adhesive interactions are divided into ad hesion to substratum surfaces, coaggregation between microbial pairs and co -adhesion between sessile and planktonic microorganisms of different strain s or species. The physico-chemical mechanisms underlying the adhesive inter actions are described and a critical review is given of currently employed methods to study microbial adhesive interactions, with an emphasis on the u se of the parallel plate flow chamber. Subsequently, for each of the three microbial adhesive interactions distinguished, the role of Lifshitz-van der Weals, acid-base and electrostatic interactions is described based on exis ting literature. (C) 1999 Federation of European Microbiological Societies. Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.