Adherence assays and slime production of Staphylococcus aureus strains after their incubation in seawater microcosms

In this study, we incubated four strains of Staphylococcus aureus for 8 months in seawater microcosms. The biofilm formation on microplates and on glass and the surface hydrophobicity of starved cells were investigated. Our results showed that the stressed cells increased their hydrophobicity from 12 to 44% and also their capacity for producing biofilm. Indeed, after 8 months of incubation in seawater microcosms, all strains became slime positive on CRA plates and very adherent to polystyrene microplates or glass wells. © 2011 Springer-Verlag and the University of Milan.