Assessment of metabolic potential of biofilm-associated bacteria

Fabrication of microbial biofilm arrays by geometric control of cell adhesion

This paper presents a technique for patterning arrays of microbial biofilms on a wide range of different substrates using thin polymer stencils. The stencils function as "scaffolds" that provide geometric control over cell adhesion on surfaces and confine biofilm growth to specific regions of a substrate. We demonstrate the fabrication of biofilm arrays with features (e.g., individual biofilms) as small as 50 microm in diameter with physiological characteristics that are reproducible. Biofilm arrays of a range of microorganisms can be produced using this technique, including: P. aeruginosa, B. subtilis, S. epidermidis, V. fischeri, E. coli, and C. albicans. This approach provides a simple, user-configurable, and relatively inexpensive method for growing biofilms in both static and flow conditions. The method described in this paper makes it possible to study the chemical, physical, and environmental factors that affect biofilm development in a statistically relevant and reproducible format.

The role of quorum sensing and the effect of environmental conditions on biofilm formation by strains of Vibrio vulnificus

It has been suggested that Vibrio vulnificus attaches to plankton and algae and is found in large numbers in the environment. Factors affecting attachment, biofilm formation and morphology of V. vulnificus have not been thoroughly investigated. This study evaluated the role of quorum sensing (QS) and environmental conditions on biofilm development of V. vulnificus. It was found that biofilm development by V. vulnificus was affected by nutrient and glucose concentration, but not by NaCl concentration or temperature under the conditions used here. Moreover, biofilm development of a QS mutant strain proceeded rapidly and sloughing occurred earlier than for the isogenic parent strain. There was a significant loss of viability for the QS mutant biofilm early in development. Hence, it is hypothesised that factors regulated by the QS system play a role in proper biofilm development and maintenance of V. vulnificus. Furthermore, it is shown that biofilm development varied among isolates.