No abstract

The adhesion of Bacillus subtilis strain IMV B-7023 cells to surfaces of different nature was studied. It was demonstrated that the sorption of cells to abiotic solid materials was considerably governed by the bacterial motility which depended on the growth phase. An important role in the interaction process involving cells and biotic surfaces was attributed to bacterial lectins. It was determined that surface lectins of B. subtilis specific for D-glucosamine chloride and, in a lesser degree, to D-glucuronic and D-galacturonic acids were also active participants of specific adhesion of bacteria to plant roots. The blockage of these lectins with D-glucosamine chloride caused bacterial adhesion to the plant roots by 26%. Thus different mechanisms may be involved into the adhesion process of bacterial cells to abiotic and biotic surfaces.