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Zhang Y, Young P, Traini D, Li M, Ong HX, Cheng S. Challenges and current advances in in vitro biofilm characterization. Biotechnol J 2023; 18:e2300074. [PMID: 37477959 DOI: 10.1002/biot.202300074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2023] [Revised: 07/18/2023] [Accepted: 07/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/22/2023]
Abstract
Biofilms are structured communities of bacterial cells encased in a self-produced polymeric matrix, which develop over time and exhibit temporal responses to stimuli from internal biological processes or external environmental changes. They can be detrimental, threatening public health and causing economic loss, while they also play beneficial roles in ecosystem health, biotechnology processes, and industrial settings. Biofilms express extreme heterogeneity in their physical properties and structural composition, resulting in critical challenges in understanding them comprehensively. The lack of detailed knowledge of biofilms and their phenotypes has deterred significant progress in developing strategies to control their negative impacts and take advantage of their beneficial applications. A range of in vitro models and characterization tools have been developed and used to study biofilm growth and, specifically, to investigate the impact of environmental and growth factors on their development. This review article discusses the existing knowledge of biofilm properties and explains how external factors, such as flow condition, surface, interface, and host factor, may impact biofilm growth. The limitations of current tools, techniques, and in vitro models that are currently used for biofilms are also presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ye Zhang
- School of Engineering, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Woolcock Institute of Medical Research, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Paul Young
- Woolcock Institute of Medical Research, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Department of Marketing, Macquarie Business School, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Daniela Traini
- Woolcock Institute of Medical Research, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Ming Li
- School of Engineering, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Hui Xin Ong
- Woolcock Institute of Medical Research, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Shaokoon Cheng
- School of Engineering, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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Barbosa A, Miranda S, Azevedo NF, Cerqueira L, Azevedo AS. Imaging biofilms using fluorescence in situ hybridization: seeing is believing. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2023; 13:1195803. [PMID: 37284501 PMCID: PMC10239779 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1195803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2023] [Accepted: 05/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Biofilms are complex structures with an intricate relationship between the resident microorganisms, the extracellular matrix, and the surrounding environment. Interest in biofilms is growing exponentially given its ubiquity in so diverse fields such as healthcare, environmental and industry. Molecular techniques (e.g., next-generation sequencing, RNA-seq) have been used to study biofilm properties. However, these techniques disrupt the spatial structure of biofilms; therefore, they do not allow to observe the location/position of biofilm components (e.g., cells, genes, metabolites), which is particularly relevant to explore and study the interactions and functions of microorganisms. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) has been arguably the most widely used method for an in situ analysis of spatial distribution of biofilms. In this review, an overview on different FISH variants already applied on biofilm studies (e.g., CLASI-FISH, BONCAT-FISH, HiPR-FISH, seq-FISH) will be explored. In combination with confocal laser scanning microscopy, these variants emerged as a powerful approach to visualize, quantify and locate microorganisms, genes, and metabolites inside biofilms. Finally, we discuss new possible research directions for the development of robust and accurate FISH-based approaches that will allow to dig deeper into the biofilm structure and function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Barbosa
- LEPABE - Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- ALiCE - Associate Laboratory in Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Sónia Miranda
- LEPABE - Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- ALiCE - Associate Laboratory in Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- i3S-Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- IPATIMUP-Instituto de Patologia e Imunologia Molecular, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Nuno F. Azevedo
- LEPABE - Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- ALiCE - Associate Laboratory in Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Laura Cerqueira
- LEPABE - Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- ALiCE - Associate Laboratory in Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Andreia S. Azevedo
- LEPABE - Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- ALiCE - Associate Laboratory in Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- i3S-Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- IPATIMUP-Instituto de Patologia e Imunologia Molecular, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
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Pettygrove BA, Smith HJ, Pallister KB, Voyich JM, Stewart PS, Parker AE. Experimental Designs to Study the Aggregation and Colonization of Biofilms by Video Microscopy With Statistical Confidence. Front Microbiol 2022; 12:785182. [PMID: 35095798 PMCID: PMC8793059 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.785182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2021] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
The goal of this study was to quantify the variability of confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) time-lapse images of early colonizing biofilms to aid in the design of future imaging experiments. To accomplish this a large imaging dataset consisting of 16 independent CLSM microscopy experiments was leveraged. These experiments were designed to study interactions between human neutrophils and single cells or aggregates of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) during the initial stages of biofilm formation. Results suggest that in untreated control experiments, variability differed substantially between growth phases (i.e., lag or exponential). When studying the effect of an antimicrobial treatment (in this case, neutrophil challenge), regardless of the inoculation level or of growth phase, variability changed as a frown-shaped function of treatment efficacy (i.e., the reduction in biofilm surface coverage). These findings were used to predict the best experimental designs for future imaging studies of early biofilms by considering differing (i) numbers of independent experiments; (ii) numbers of fields of view (FOV) per experiment; and (iii) frame capture rates per hour. A spreadsheet capable of assessing any user-specified design is included that requires the expected mean log reduction and variance components from user-generated experimental results. The methodology outlined in this study can assist researchers in designing their CLSM studies of antimicrobial treatments with a high level of statistical confidence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian A. Pettygrove
- Center for Biofilm Engineering, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, United States
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, United States
| | - Heidi J. Smith
- Center for Biofilm Engineering, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, United States
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, United States
| | - Kyler B. Pallister
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, United States
| | - Jovanka M. Voyich
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, United States
| | - Philip S. Stewart
- Center for Biofilm Engineering, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, United States
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, United States
| | - Albert E. Parker
- Center for Biofilm Engineering, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, United States
- Department of Mathematical Sciences, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, United States
- *Correspondence: Albert E. Parker
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Roy R, Tiwari M, Donelli G, Tiwari V. Strategies for combating bacterial biofilms: A focus on anti-biofilm agents and their mechanisms of action. Virulence 2018; 9:522-554. [PMID: 28362216 PMCID: PMC5955472 DOI: 10.1080/21505594.2017.1313372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 691] [Impact Index Per Article: 115.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Biofilm refers to the complex, sessile communities of microbes found either attached to a surface or buried firmly in an extracellular matrix as aggregates. The biofilm matrix surrounding bacteria makes them tolerant to harsh conditions and resistant to antibacterial treatments. Moreover, the biofilms are responsible for causing a broad range of chronic diseases and due to the emergence of antibiotic resistance in bacteria it has really become difficult to treat them with efficacy. Furthermore, the antibiotics available till date are ineffective for treating these biofilm related infections due to their higher values of minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC), which may result in in-vivo toxicity. Hence, it is critically important to design or screen anti-biofilm molecules that can effectively minimize and eradicate biofilm related infections. In the present article, we have highlighted the mechanism of biofilm formation with reference to different models and various methods used for biofilm detection. A major focus has been put on various anti-biofilm molecules discovered or tested till date which may include herbal active compounds, chelating agents, peptide antibiotics, lantibiotics and synthetic chemical compounds along with their structures, mechanism of action and their respective MICs, MBCs, minimum biofilm inhibitory concentrations (MBICs) as well as the half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values available in the literature so far. Different mode of action of anti biofilm molecules addressed here are inhibition via interference in the quorum sensing pathways, adhesion mechanism, disruption of extracellular DNA, protein, lipopolysaccharides, exopolysaccharides and secondary messengers involved in various signaling pathways. From this study, we conclude that the molecules considered here might be used to treat biofilm-associated infections after significant structural modifications, thereby investigating its effective delivery in the host. It should also be ensured that minimum effective concentration of these molecules must be capable of eradicating biofilm infections with maximum potency without posing any adverse side effects on the host.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ranita Roy
- a Department of Biochemistry , Central University of Rajasthan , Ajmer , India
| | - Monalisa Tiwari
- a Department of Biochemistry , Central University of Rajasthan , Ajmer , India
| | - Gianfranco Donelli
- b Microbial Biofilm Laboratory, IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia , Rome , Italy
| | - Vishvanath Tiwari
- a Department of Biochemistry , Central University of Rajasthan , Ajmer , India
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Antibiotic Persistence as a Metabolic Adaptation: Stress, Metabolism, the Host, and New Directions. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2018; 11:ph11010014. [PMID: 29389876 PMCID: PMC5874710 DOI: 10.3390/ph11010014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2017] [Revised: 01/25/2018] [Accepted: 01/27/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Persistence is a phenomenon during which a small fraction of a total bacterial population survives treatment with high concentrations of antibiotics for an extended period of time. In conjunction with biofilms, antibiotic persisters represent a major cause of recalcitrant and recurring infections, resulting in significant morbidity and mortality. In this review, we discuss the clinical significance of persister cells and the central role of bacterial metabolism in their formation, specifically with respect to carbon catabolite repression, sugar metabolism, and growth regulation. Additionally, we will examine persister formation as an evolutionary strategy used to tolerate extended periods of stress and discuss some of the response mechanisms implicated in their formation. To date, the vast majority of the mechanistic research examining persistence has been conducted in artificial in vitro environments that are unlikely to be representative of host conditions. Throughout this review, we contextualize the existing body of literature by discussing how in vivo conditions may create ecological niches that facilitate the development of persistence. Lastly, we identify how the development of next-generation sequencing and other “big data” tools may enable researchers to examine persistence mechanisms within the host to expand our understanding of their clinical importance.
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Dibartola AC, Swearingen MC, Granger JF, Stoodley P, Dusane DH. Biofilms in orthopedic infections: a review of laboratory methods. APMIS 2017; 125:418-428. [DOI: 10.1111/apm.12671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2016] [Accepted: 01/06/2016] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Matthew C. Swearingen
- Department of Microbial Infection and Immunity; The Ohio State University; Columbus OH USA
| | | | - Paul Stoodley
- Department of Microbial Infection and Immunity; The Ohio State University; Columbus OH USA
- Department of Orthopaedics; The Ohio State University; Columbus OH USA
- National Centre for Advanced Tribology; Faculty of Engineering and the Environment; University of Southampton; Southampton UK
| | - Devendra H. Dusane
- Department of Microbial Infection and Immunity; The Ohio State University; Columbus OH USA
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Resuscitation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa from dormancy requires hibernation promoting factor (PA4463) for ribosome preservation. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2017; 114:3204-3209. [PMID: 28270601 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1700695114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm infections are difficult to treat with antibiotic therapy in part because the biofilms contain subpopulations of dormant antibiotic-tolerant cells. The dormant cells can repopulate the biofilms following alleviation of antibiotic treatments. While dormant, the bacteria must maintain cellular integrity, including ribosome abundance, to reinitiate the de novo protein synthesis required for resuscitation. Here, we demonstrate that the P. aeruginosa gene PA4463 [hibernation promoting factor (HPF)], but not the ribosome modulation factor (PA3049), is required for ribosomal RNA preservation during prolonged nutrient starvation conditions. Single-cell-level studies using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and growth in microfluidic drops demonstrate that, in the absence of hpf, the rRNA abundances of starved cells decrease to levels that cause them to lose their ability to resuscitate from starvation, leaving intact nondividing cells. P. aeruginosa defective in the stringent response also had reduced ability to resuscitate from dormancy. However, FISH analysis of the starved stringent response mutant showed a bimodal response where the individual cells contained either abundant or low ribosome content, compared with the wild-type strain. The results indicate that ribosome maintenance is key for maintaining the ability of P. aeruginosa to resuscitate from starvation-induced dormancy and that HPF is the major factor associated with P. aeruginosa ribosome preservation.
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Abstract
Bacteria have traditionally been studied as single-cell organisms. In laboratory settings, aerobic bacteria are usually cultured in aerated flasks, where the cells are considered essentially homogenous. However, in many natural environments, bacteria and other microorganisms grow in mixed communities, often associated with surfaces. Biofilms are comprised of surface-associated microorganisms, their extracellular matrix material, and environmental chemicals that have adsorbed to the bacteria or their matrix material. While this definition of a biofilm is fairly simple, biofilms are complex and dynamic. Our understanding of the activities of individual biofilm cells and whole biofilm systems has developed rapidly, due in part to advances in molecular, analytical, and imaging tools and the miniaturization of tools designed to characterize biofilms at the enzyme level, cellular level, and systems level.
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Munson-McGee JH, Field EK, Bateson M, Rooney C, Stepanauskas R, Young MJ. Nanoarchaeota, Their Sulfolobales Host, and Nanoarchaeota Virus Distribution across Yellowstone National Park Hot Springs. Appl Environ Microbiol 2015; 81:7860-8. [PMID: 26341207 PMCID: PMC4616950 DOI: 10.1128/aem.01539-15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2015] [Accepted: 09/01/2015] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Nanoarchaeota are obligate symbionts with reduced genomes first described from marine thermal vent environments. Here, both community metagenomics and single-cell analysis revealed the presence of Nanoarchaeota in high-temperature (∼90°C), acidic (pH ≈ 2.5 to 3.0) hot springs in Yellowstone National Park (YNP) (United States). Single-cell genome analysis of two cells resulted in two nearly identical genomes, with an estimated full length of 650 kbp. Genome comparison showed that these two cells are more closely related to the recently proposed Nanobsidianus stetteri from a more neutral YNP hot spring than to the marine Nanoarchaeum equitans. Single-cell and catalyzed reporter deposition-fluorescence in situ hybridization (CARD-FISH) analysis of environmental hot spring samples identified the host of the YNP Nanoarchaeota as a Sulfolobales species known to inhabit the hot springs. Furthermore, we demonstrate that Nanoarchaeota are widespread in acidic to near neutral hot springs in YNP. An integrated viral sequence was also found within one Nanoarchaeota single-cell genome and further analysis of the purified viral fraction from environmental samples indicates that this is likely a virus replicating within the YNP Nanoarchaeota.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob H Munson-McGee
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana, USA
| | - Erin K Field
- Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences, East Boothbay, Maine, USA
| | - Mary Bateson
- Thermal Biology Institute, Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana, USA
| | - Colleen Rooney
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana, USA
| | | | - Mark J Young
- Thermal Biology Institute, Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana, USA Department of Plant Sciences and Plant Pathology, Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana, USA
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Brileya KA, Camilleri LB, Zane GM, Wall JD, Fields MW. Biofilm growth mode promotes maximum carrying capacity and community stability during product inhibition syntrophy. Front Microbiol 2014; 5:693. [PMID: 25566209 PMCID: PMC4266047 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2014.00693] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2014] [Accepted: 11/22/2014] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) can interact syntrophically with other community members in the absence of sulfate, and interactions with hydrogen-consuming methanogens are beneficial when these archaea consume potentially inhibitory H2 produced by the SRB. A dual continuous culture approach was used to characterize population structure within a syntrophic biofilm formed by the SRB Desulfovibrio vulgaris Hildenborough and the methanogenic archaeum Methanococcus maripaludis. Under the tested conditions, monocultures of D. vulgaris formed thin, stable biofilms, but monoculture M. maripaludis did not. Microscopy of intact syntrophic biofilm confirmed that D. vulgaris formed a scaffold for the biofilm, while intermediate and steady-state images revealed that M. maripaludis joined the biofilm later, likely in response to H2 produced by the SRB. Close interactions in structured biofilm allowed efficient transfer of H2 to M. maripaludis, and H2 was only detected in cocultures with a mutant SRB that was deficient in biofilm formation (ΔpilA). M. maripaludis produced more carbohydrate (uronic acid, hexose, and pentose) as a monoculture compared to total coculture biofilm, and this suggested an altered carbon flux during syntrophy. The syntrophic biofilm was structured into ridges (∼300 × 50 μm) and models predicted lactate limitation at ∼50 μm biofilm depth. The biofilm had structure that likely facilitated mass transfer of H2 and lactate, yet maximized biomass with a more even population composition (number of each organism) when compared to the bulk-phase community. Total biomass protein was equivalent in lactate-limited and lactate-excess conditions when a biofilm was present, but in the absence of biofilm, total biomass protein was significantly reduced. The results suggest that multispecies biofilms create an environment conducive to resource sharing, resulting in increased biomass retention, or carrying capacity, for cooperative populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristen A Brileya
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Montana State University Bozeman, MT, USA ; Center for Biofilm Engineering, Montana State University Bozeman, MT, USA
| | - Laura B Camilleri
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Montana State University Bozeman, MT, USA ; Center for Biofilm Engineering, Montana State University Bozeman, MT, USA
| | - Grant M Zane
- Division of Biochemistry, University of Missouri Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Judy D Wall
- Division of Biochemistry, University of Missouri Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Matthew W Fields
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Montana State University Bozeman, MT, USA ; Center for Biofilm Engineering, Montana State University Bozeman, MT, USA ; Thermal Biology Institute, Montana State University Bozeman, MT, USA ; Ecosystems and Networks Integrated with Genes and Molecular Assemblies Berkeley, CA, USA ; National Center for Genome Resources Santa Fe, NM, USA
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