The Effects Of Methanol, Ethanol, Propanol and Butanol On Bacterial Attachment To Surfaces

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Abstract
The effects of methanol, ethanol, propanol and butanol, at concentrations of 0-2,0.5,1-0,1.5 and 2.0% (v/v), on the attachment of a marine Pseudomonas sp. to polystyrene dishes (PD) and tissue culture dishes (TCD) were determined. When the bacteria attached in the presence of the alcohols, attachment to TCD was increased with certain concentrations of ethanol (0.2 and 0-5 %), propanol(Oe2,l a5 and 2.0 %) and butanol(1 .O %), with either a decrease in attachment or no effect with the other concentrations tested. With PD, there was no increase in attachment, but the relationship between numbers of attached bacteria and alcohol concentration paralleled that obtained with TCD. Pre-incubation of the bacteria with the alcohols affected their subsequent attachment, but the resultant increases or decreases in attachment were not consistent with those I obtained when attachment occurred in the presence of alcohols. Physicochemical properties of the attachment system were evaluated by measuring liquid surface tensions (yLv) and sessile drop (OS,-,) and air bubble (0,) contact angles on TCD and PD of the bacterial suspending medium with the various alcohol concentrations, both before and after incubation with the alcohols. There was a relationship between numbers of attached bacteria and medium yLv, with minimum attachment occurring at yLv values of 64-69 mN m-l. The increase in attachment to TCD in the presence of ethanol, propanol and butanol was accompanied by an increase in respiration rate, which could reflect a modification of cell surface components.

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