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Name: Michael
Status: Other
Grade:  Other
Location: N/A
Country: N/A
Date: September 2007
Question:
Could you please explain the distinction between "smooth" and "rough" Gram-negative bacteria, such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and how it relates to presence or absence of exopolysaccharide or alginate.

I always had the impression that the smooth or mucoid strains are those that hyperproduce alginate; however, I just read that non-mucoid P. aeruginosa have "smooth" lipopolysaccharide.


Replies:
A mucoid coat is made up of glycoprotein, a sugar containing protein molecule. A lipolysaccharide coat (found in smooth pnemococcus, for example) is made up of fatty acids and sugar molecules.

Ron Baker, Ph.D.


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