Molecular Level Analysis of Macromolecule-Surface Interactions in Bacterial Adhesion

化学部门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合作研究活动奖。该奖项支持Bruce Logan， Darrel Velegol， Jon Chorover和James Kubicki在分子水平上研究天然和工程水生系统中细菌粘附的大分子-表面相互作用。此外，该奖项还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。潜在的假设是，细胞表面的相互作用是由细胞表面聚合物（外聚合物）和天然有机物质（如腐植酸和黄腐酸）与表面的相互作用所主导的。原子力光谱、FTIR、电流体动力学技术和分子模型将被用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。目标是改进描述粒子和表面之间相互作用的方法和模型，这些表面在原子水平上是不规则形状的，存在键和可溶性大分子。这项研究旨在提高我们对自然系统和工程环境中细菌粘附的理解。它对受污染地下水的恢复、水处理和废水回收具有重要意义，随着淡水供应成为全球环境和人类健康关注的问题，这将变得越来越重要。外展计划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.