Original Article |
2005, Vol.27, No.2, pp. 377-383
Hydrophobicity and aggregation of Campylobacter jejuni, Escherichia coli 0157:H7 and Listeria monocytogenes
Nathanon Trachoo and Kanchana Chumpamee
pp. 377 - 383
Abstract
Physicochemical properties such as hydrophobicity and ability to aggregate play an important role in the attachment of microorganisms to environmental surfaces and intestinal tissues of humans and animals leading to gastroenteritis in hosts. The objective of this research was to determine relative hydrophobicity and aggregation properties of major foodborne pathogens including Campylobacter jejuni, Escherichia coli 0157:H7 and Listeria monocytogenes LM18, LM32, LM msu1 and LM msu2. Relative hydrophobicity as determined by the microbial adhesion to hydrocarbon (MATH test) of E. coli 0157:H7 was 19.30% indicating that substances on its cell surfaces were more hydrophobic than other pathogens and thus could be extracted more by the hydrocarbon, hexadecane. C. jejuni had relative hydrophobicity of 4.15% while the four strains of L. monocytogenes had relative hydrophobicity ranging from 3.79% to 16.23%. Aggregation of C. jejuni, E. coli and L. monocytogenes LM18, LM32, LM msu1 and LM msu2 were 45%, 21.25%, 12.51%, 13.09%, 31.27% and 41.22%, respectively