Évaluation du pouvoir adhérant du Lactobacillus helveticus au polystyrène expansé
We measured the surface tension of a three-phase (solid–solid–liquid) system consisting of the bacterium Lactobacillus helveticus in a culture medium containing an expanded polystyrene support, to determine the adherence capacity of the bacteria to the support. The surface tension of the expanded polystyrene and the L. helveticus cells was evaluated by measuring contact angles. The Wilhelmy's microslide method was used to measure the surface tension of the liquid phase. The values obtained showed that the adherence capacity of the L. helveticus cells to expanded polystyrene pellets was not facilitated under the experimental thermodynamic conditions. The pellet surfaces and adhering bacterial cells were examined with a scanning electron microscope. The pellets exhibited several grooves in which microbial cells preferentially accumulated. Key words: Lactobacillus helveticus, adherence, surface tension, expanded polystyrene. [Translated by the journal]