Study of surface characteristics of water-exposed Helicobacter pylori and plumb...

• Author(s): Azevedo, N. F. ; Pacheco, A. P. ; Pinto, A. R. ; Keevil, C. W. ; Vieira, M. J.
• Date: 2004
• Persistent ID: http://hdl.handle.net/1822/4513
• Origin: RepositóriUM - Universidade do Minho
• Subject(s): Helicobacter pylori; Contact angles; Water; Adhesion; DAPI; Fluorescence microscopy
• Document Type: Conference Object
• Language: English

Description

Adhesion of Helicobacter pylori to six materials of different hydrophobicity and commonly used in drinking water distribution systems was investigated using epifluorescence microscopy. The values obtained were subsequently compared with theoretical adhesion values, based on surface tension components and hydrophobicity, calculated through contact angle measurements. Bacteria were found to have a hydrophobic surface with a water contact angle of 62.4 ± 4.7 degrees as determined by the sessile drop method. All the test surfaces examined were also hydrophobic except for glass. H. pylori was able to adhere to all materials, but glass appeared to support lower numbers, which can be explained by the hydrophilic character of this material.