Chemical Signal-Response in Diatoms of the Genus Amphora

摘要

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: Biofouling; Bioadhesion; Fouling; Diatom; Sensory transduction; Surfaces; Chemical signals. Reprints. (KT)