Structure of Exocellular Polymers and Their Relationship to Bacterial Flocculation

Abstract

Several gram-negative, polarly flagellated rods were isolated on the basis of their flocculent growth habit. Some of the isolates possessed a capsular matrix which is composed of exocellular fibrils. Other isolates did not appear to have a capsular matrix when examined with a bright-field microscope with or without the aid of stains. However, these latter type isolates did possess exocellular material which can be demonstrated by adsorption of a fluorescent dye under an ultraviolet microscope. Electron microscopic examination demonstrated that the exocellular material around all isolates examined is fibrillar. The fibrils were susceptible to cellulase although all fibrils did not appear to be identical. It is postulated that the exocellular polymers were responsible for the flocculent growth habit of the bacteria, and that the process of bacterial flocculation produced by synthetic polyelectrolytes was essentially the same as that caused by naturally produced exopolymers.