The Use of a Sensory Model to Facilitate the Study of the Biochemistry of Adhesion to Surfaces in Marine Fouling Diatoms

Abstract

The goal of this project is to understand the means by which fouling diatoms sense surfaces and adhere to them in their formation of a biofilm layer. We have begun to define the type of chemical signal needed by the diatom in order that it secrete adhesive. It is possible that the crucial elements of this signal can be obtained from the marine conditioning layer. The work depends on methodology wherein chemical gradients are presented to motile diatoms and their response determined using video microscopy and manual image analysis. Future work will concentrate on defining the specificity of putative membrane receptors from the organisms. Keywords: Fouling; Diatom; Sensory transduction; Surfaces; Chemical signals.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
May 31, 1988
Accession Number
ADA198625

Entities

People

  • B. Cooksey
  • K. E. Cooksey

Organizations

  • Montana State University

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Abstracts
  • Adhesion
  • Adhesives
  • Availability
  • Biochemistry
  • Cell Membrane
  • Cells
  • Cellular Structures
  • Classification
  • Contracts
  • Corrosion
  • Membranes
  • Microbiology
  • Microscopy
  • Molecules
  • Security
  • Students

Readers

  • Marine Ecotoxicology
  • Microbial Pathology
  • Surface Coatings Technology.

Technology Areas

  • Biotechnology