The majority of our knowledge of bacterial attachment and subsequent biofilm formation has been gleaned from studies on human pathogens and commensal bacteria with specialized attachment mechanisms and attachment substrata. In contrast many marine microorganisms have a variety of substratum choices, with the added challenge of new types of introduced substrata (boats, piers, pilings) as possible biofilm supports. Maintaining the genetic information needed to produce specific attachment mechanisms for each possible substratum would be maladaptive; it is very likely that marine bacteria exploit their colloid-like size and rely on colloidal interactions to drive attachment. Thus, colloidal models of bacterial attachment are of particular interest to understanding marine microbial attachment. Current models of bacterial attachment are useful for describing some bacterial attachment, but cannot predict attachment behavior in most cases. In this work we examine 3 basic assumptions of the preeminent model used for bacterial attachment, the Lewis Acid Base (LAB) model proposed by van Oss. We used gold-alkanethilate self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) and three marine bacteria to test these assumptions. The first assumption is that apolar interactions include both London dispersion (induced dipole/induced dipole) interactions and those based on fixed dipoles. Using apolar contact angle liquids of either purely London dispersion or London dispersion and dipole/induced dipole interactions we calculated the apolar component of the surface tensions of SAMs and bacteria and observed differences in the estimation of the apolar surface tension and, thus, the total surface tension on polar surfaces. The second assumption is that the Lewis acid and base components of H_2O surface tension are equal, which frequently leads to overestimation of Lewis basicity. We calculated surface tensions of bacteria and SAM surfaces with both LAB values and those based on solvatometric hydrogen bonding calculations and observed that the latter gave more reasonable estimation of the free energy of attachment. The third assumption is that interactions can be correlated with average surface energy for the cell. Both our observations and those in the literature have led us to believe this is untrue. We present scanning electron microscopy data that demonstrate that different parts of bacterial cells are in contact with the surface of different SAMs and that SAMs on nanoparticles can identify specific regions of heterogeneity on bacterial cell surfaces. Based on our results we propose modifications to the LAB model that may make it more able to model and predict marine bacterial attachment.

Since the very first mariners traversed ocean waters, hulls have become encrusted with fouling organisms such as barnacles, oysters, tube worms, and algae. Antifouling coatings can prevent the resulting loss of vessel performance, but at a cost. Current coatings release toxins into the water, thereby killing the foulers as well as other species. Rather that destroying marine life, stopping bioadhesion processes may provide a benign means of antifouling. Consequently we have been seeking detailed knowledge of how shellfish attach themselves to surfaces. The resulting insights can be used to develop mechanism-based antifouling coatings for inhibiting the production of bioadhesives. Our characterization efforts have focused on the intractable glues and cements of mussels, barnacles, and oysters. A fruitful approach has been to work simultaneously with synthetic peptide models, extracted adhesive proteins, and material produced by the animals. Perspectives from each class of experiments can be complimentary and used to build pictures of how the animals generate their adhesives. Themes in marine bioadhesion are beginning to emerge as well as evidence for unique aspects within each system. Cross-linking of proteins plays a prominent role in curing the glues. Inorganic reactions and related oxidative chemistry also contribute to formation of the materials. Here we will present a summary of our latest findings on how shellfish stick.

Marine biofouling -the accumulation of unwanted biomass on solid structures- is of major concern to maritime pursuits. Biofouling can not only decrease performance of deployed marine equipment, such as ships or oil rigs, but can also result in the transport of invasive species between ports of call. The problem of biofouling is at first a problem of microbial interaction with the water-solid interface; bacteria and diatoms themselves can form detrimental biofilms and can further enable the settlement of macrofoulers. This talk will present studies that seek to shed light on underlying chemical factors that lead to the initial attachment of metabolically homogenous populations of model marine bacterial populations to well-defined organic and polymeric surfaces. It will also present studies of the use of stimuli-responsive surfaces to allow release of attached marine biofilms.