Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - The use of ultrasonic imaging to evaluate the effect of protazoan grazing and movement on the topography of bacterial biofilms.
AU - Parry, Jackie D.
AU - Holmes, A. K.
AU - Unwin, M. E.
AU - Laybourn-Parry, J.
PY - 2007/10
Y1 - 2007/10
N2 - Aims: This study evaluated the effect of protozoan movement and grazing on the topography of a dual-bacterial biofilm using both conventional light microscopy and a new ultrasonic technique. Methods and Results: Coupons of dialysis membrane were incubated in Chalkley's medium for 3 days at 23°C in the presence of bacteria (Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella aerogenes) alone, or in co-culture with the flagellate Bodo designis, the ciliate Tetrahymena pyriformis or the amoeba Acanthamoeba castellanii. Amoebic presence resulted in a confluent biofilm similar to the bacteria-only biofilm while the flagellate and ciliate created more diverse biofilm topographies comprising bacterial microcolonies and cavities. Conclusions: The four distinct biofilm topographies were successfully discerned with ultrasonic imaging and the method yielded information similar to that obtained with conventional light microscopy. Significance and Impact of the Study: Ultrasonic imaging provides a potential way forward in the development of a portable, nondestructive technique for profiling the topography of biofilms in situ, which might aid in the future management of biofouling.
AB - Aims: This study evaluated the effect of protozoan movement and grazing on the topography of a dual-bacterial biofilm using both conventional light microscopy and a new ultrasonic technique. Methods and Results: Coupons of dialysis membrane were incubated in Chalkley's medium for 3 days at 23°C in the presence of bacteria (Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella aerogenes) alone, or in co-culture with the flagellate Bodo designis, the ciliate Tetrahymena pyriformis or the amoeba Acanthamoeba castellanii. Amoebic presence resulted in a confluent biofilm similar to the bacteria-only biofilm while the flagellate and ciliate created more diverse biofilm topographies comprising bacterial microcolonies and cavities. Conclusions: The four distinct biofilm topographies were successfully discerned with ultrasonic imaging and the method yielded information similar to that obtained with conventional light microscopy. Significance and Impact of the Study: Ultrasonic imaging provides a potential way forward in the development of a portable, nondestructive technique for profiling the topography of biofilms in situ, which might aid in the future management of biofouling.
KW - Biofilm
KW - microcolonies
KW - protozoa
KW - topography
KW - ultrasonic
U2 - 10.1111/j.1472-765X.2007.02213.x
DO - 10.1111/j.1472-765X.2007.02213.x
M3 - Journal article
VL - 45
SP - 364
EP - 370
JO - Letters in Applied Microbiology
JF - Letters in Applied Microbiology
SN - 0266-8254
IS - 4
ER -