Deleya marina as a model organism for studies of bacterial colonization and biofilm formation

Deleya marina was used as a model organism to identify cellular components essential to surface colonization, an important early step in biofouling. Model components include the test bacterium D. marina, its phenotypic variants, and a rapid microplate adhesion assay. Studies of D. marina exopolymer and motility properties are discussed in the context of colonization processes and model development. A testable hypothesis is presented which was formulated to explain events in surface colonization by D. marina.