Microbiology & Immunology Publications
Title
Reply
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
7-1-1992
Journal
FEMS Microbiology Letters
Volume
94
Issue
1-2
First Page
101
Last Page
104
URL with Digital Object Identifier
10.1016/0378-1097(92)90591-B
Abstract
Seven clinical isolates of lactobacilli were found to be relatively hydrophobic with a mean watercontact angle of 66 ± 15 degrees, and to be susceptible to 1% nonoxynol-9 and vancomycin. However, seven other strains were relatively hydrophilic with a mean water-contact angle of 32 ± 13 degrees, and found to be resistant to 25% nonoxynol-9 and vancomycin. Thus, the surface properties of lactobacilli that influence susceptibility to antimicrobial agents may involve surface hydrophobicity. Possibly the penetration barrier posed by the cell surface towards these two non-ionic antimicrobials is lower for hydrophobic cells than for hydrophilic cells. © 1992.
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