Characteristics of the adhesion of Ruminococcus albus to cellulose

Factors influencing the adhesion of Ruminococcus albus to cellulose were investigated. Changes in pH between 5.5 and 8.0 had little effect but below pH 5.0 there was a marked decrease in adhesion. The optimum temperature for adhesion was around 30°C. Carboxymethyl cellulose and methyl cellulose both inhibited adhesion, but no significant inhibition was caused by starch or amylopectin. Glucose and cellobiose as well as rumen fluid and sodium chloride mildly stimulated adhesion. Adhesion was resistant to the action of detergents and was not inhibited by EDTA or potassium thiocyanate. Certain commercial lignin compounds caused a marked reduction in adhesion, but a range of phenolic monomers had no significant effect.