Journal
FEMS IMMUNOLOGY AND MEDICAL MICROBIOLOGY
Volume 59, Issue 3, Pages 350-356Publisher
WILEY-BLACKWELL
DOI: 10.1111/j.1574-695X.2010.00683.x
Keywords
attachment; biofilm; Gram-negative bacteria; biofouling; exopolymeric substances; microgravity
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Microorganisms tend to form biofilms on surfaces, thereby causing deterioration of the underlaying material. In addition, biofilm is a potential health risk to humans. Therefore, microorganism growth is not only an issue on Earth but also in manned space habitats like the International Space Station (ISS). The aim of the study was to identify physiological processes relevant for Micrococcus luteus attachment under microgravity conditions. The results demonstrate that simulated microgravity influences physiological processes which trigger bacterial attachment and biofilm formation. The ISS strains produced larger amounts of exopolymeric substances (EPS) compared with a reference strain from Earth. In contrast, M. luteus strains were growing faster, and Earth as well as ISS isolates produced a higher yield of biomass under microgravity conditions than under normal gravity. Furthermore, microgravity caused a reduction of the colloidal EPS production of ISS isolates in comparison with normal gravity, which probably influences biofilm thickness and stability as well.
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