5 Conclusions
Adsorbates of D. vulgaris-EPS on metal surfaces can decrease the
amount of cell adhesion on short timescale when compared to
pure surfaces studied by FM and lectin-staining.
The adsorption of EPS does not lead to homogeneously
formed layers. Upon exposure to liquid phase, only a small
fraction the adsorbate desorbs again. The creation of heterogeneously
covered surfaces is discussed to be an important
reason for an insignificant influence of EPS when studied by
electrochemical means.
By FM, only a small effect of temperature on the adsorbate
formation was observed. More insight will be achieved by
application of quartz micro-balance.
In-situ inoculation leads to high amount of cell adhesion
regardless to the presence or absence of an EPS layer. This finding
is related to a higher grade of similarity between mature cultures
and their EPS probably due to the footprint approach but also to
an influence of QS.
Acknowledgements: This work was funded by the German
Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Technology (Bundesministerium
fu¨r Wirtschaft und Technologie, BMWi) via the
German industrial research association ‘‘Arbeitsgemeinschaft
industrieller Forschungsvereinigungen’’ (AiF), projects 178 ZN
and 263 ZN. The authors are also grateful for the participation in
the working group of the European COST (Cooperation in field of
Scientific and Technical Research) -Action D33. L. W. is grateful
for DECHEMA funding his stay at the Karl-Winnacker Institut.