Molecular Level Analysis of Macromolecule-Surface Interactions in Bacterial Adhesion

化学部的特别项目办公室支持宾夕法尼亚州立大学获得环境分子科学（CRAEMS）合作研究活动奖。该奖项支持布鲁斯洛根，达雷尔Velegol，乔恩Chorover和詹姆斯Kubicki研究大分子表面相互作用的细菌粘附在自然和工程水生系统在分子水平上。此外，该奖项通过一个子奖项支持耶鲁大学的Menachem Elimelech研究细菌细胞运动和界面附近粘附的理论和实验方面。基本的假设是，细胞表面的相互作用是由细胞表面的聚合物（exopolymers）和天然有机物质，如腐殖酸和富里酸，与表面的相互作用占主导地位。将采用原子力光谱法、FTIR、电流体动力学技术和分子建模来探测聚合物的尺寸、强度和构象，作为溶液化学、表面电荷和表面组成的函数。我们的目标是改进方法和模型，描述粒子和表面之间的相互作用，是不规则形状在原子水平上存在的键合和可溶性的大分子。这项研究旨在提高我们的理解细菌粘附在自然系统和工程环境中。它对恢复受污染的地下水、水处理和废水回收具有重要意义，随着淡水的供应成为全球环境和人类健康问题，这些问题将变得越来越重要。 推广方案教育当地学校系统的学生了解环境问题和方法。

The Special Projects Office in the Chemistry Division supports this Collaborative Research Activities in Environmental Molecular Science (CRAEMS) Award to Penn State University. This award supports Bruce Logan, Darrel Velegol, Jon Chorover and James Kubicki to study macromolecule-surface interactions in bacterial adhesion in natural and engineered aquatic systems at the molecular level. In addition, the award supports Menachem Elimelech at Yale University through a subaward to study theoretical and experimental aspects of bacterial cell motion and adhesion near interfaces. The underlying hypothesis is that cell-surface interactions are dominated by the interaction of cell-surface polymers (exopolymers), and natural organic matter, such as humic and fulvic acids, with the surface. Atomic Force Spectroscopy, FTIR, electro-hydrodynamic techniques, and molecular modeling will be employed to probe polymer size, strength, and conformation as a function of solution chemistry, surface charge, and surface composition. The goal is improved methods and models that describe interactions between particles and surfaces that are irregularly shaped at atomic levels in the presence of bonded and soluble macromolecules.This research is designed to improve our understanding of bacterial adhesion in natural systems and in engineered environments. It has important implications for restoration of contaminated groundwater, water treatment, and wastewater reclamation, which will become increasingly important as availability of fresh water becomes a global environmental and human health concern. Outreach programs educate students of the local school system in environmental problems and approaches.