A Rapid Bioluminescence Method for Quantifying Bacterial Adhesion to Polystyrene

Abstract

Bioluminescence ATP analysis was used to assess bacterial adhesion with hydrophobic polystyrene tubes as the attachment surface. The assay was performed at 37.degree. C and pH 6.8 with a 10 min incubation period. A variation of > 200-fold was observed in the adherence capacity of 34 urinary isolates of Escherichia coli; organisms were classified as strongly or weakly adherent. All strains capable of strong adhesion possessed type 1 fimbriae and flagella; maximum adhesion was expressed during the exponential growth phase. Attachment was in all cases virtually eliminated by addition of 2.5% (wt/vol) D-mannose to the incubation buffer. Strains which were deficient in type 1 fimbriae and/or flagella were weakly adherent during all phases of growth. There was no correlation between adherence of E. coli to polystyrene and adherence to buccal or uroepithelial cells; there was a significant association with adherence to uromucoid (P < 0.002).