Phylogenetic Composition, Spatial Structure, and Dynamics of Lotic Bacterial Biofilms Investigated by Fluorescent in Situ Hybridization and Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy

1999 ◽  
Vol 37 (4) ◽  
pp. 225-237 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. Manz ◽  
K. Wendt-Potthoff ◽  
T.R. Neu ◽  
U. Szewzyk ◽  
J.R. Lawrence
Keyword(s):  
In Situ Hybridization ◽  
Spatial Structure ◽  
Fluorescent In Situ Hybridization ◽  
Laser Scanning ◽  
Laser Scanning Microscopy ◽  
Confocal Laser ◽  
Bacterial Biofilms ◽  
Structure And Dynamics ◽  
Phylogenetic Composition

Monitoring the development of anaerobic biofilms using fluorescent in situ hybridization and confocal laser scanning microscopy

2000 ◽  
Vol 41 (12) ◽  
pp. 69-77 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. C. Araujo ◽  
G. Brucha ◽  
J. R. Campos ◽  
R. F. Vazoller
Keyword(s):  
In Situ Hybridization ◽  
Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy ◽  
Fluorescent In Situ Hybridization ◽  
Laser Scanning ◽  
Laser Scanning Microscopy ◽  
Confocal Laser Scanning ◽  
Scanning Microscopy ◽  
Confocal Laser ◽  
Anaerobic Consortium

In this study we investigated the development of anaerobic biofilm using a laboratory reactor. We were especially interested in comparing the organization of anaerobic cells (particularly those that are very common in domestic sewage sludge) in a hydrophilic (glass) versus a hydrophobic (polypropylene) surface. Fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) with domain and group specific probes directed against 16S ribosomal RNA were used to quantify microbial composition in the biofilm. FISH and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) were used to elucidate spatial distribution of microbes in the biofilms. Two experiments were carried out, one with pure methanogenic organisms and the other with a microbial anaerobic consortium. The pure methanogen cultures, Methanobacterium formicicum (DSM 1535); Methanosaeta concilli (DSM 3671) and Methanosarcina barkeri (DSM 800) were used to seed the modified Robbins Device (MRD) to allow the development of biofilms on polypropylene and glass surfaces during the 9-days experiment. The results showed that all the three species were colonizing both surfaces after two and nine days of experimental period. In another experiment, with polypropylene coupons only, MRD was seeded with a microbial anaerobic consortium and biofilm formation was studied during 11 days. At the end of this period, the biofilms generated were of uneven thickness with areas of minimal or no surface coverage and areas where the biofilm attained a thickness of 7.0 to 9.0 μm as revealed by CLSM. The results showed that the modified Robbins Device together with the fluorescent in situ hybridization and confocal laser scanning microscopy are suitable tools to study anaerobic biofilm development in different kinds of support materials.

scholarly journals Combination of Fluorescent In Situ Hybridization and Microautoradiography—a New Tool for Structure-Function Analyses in Microbial Ecology

1999 ◽  
Vol 65 (3) ◽  
pp. 1289-1297 ◽  
Author(s):  
Natuscka Lee ◽  
Per Halkjær Nielsen ◽  
Kjær Holm Andreasen ◽  
Stefan Juretschko ◽  
Jeppe Lund Nielsen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
In Situ Hybridization ◽  
Activated Sludge ◽  
Microbial Communities ◽  
Fluorescent In Situ Hybridization ◽  
Laser Scanning ◽  
Laser Scanning Microscopy ◽  
Confocal Laser Scanning ◽  
Confocal Laser ◽  
Aerobic Incubation

ABSTRACT A new microscopic method for simultaneously determining in situ the identities, activities, and specific substrate uptake profiles of individual bacterial cells within complex microbial communities was developed by combining fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) performed with rRNA-targeted oligonucleotide probes and microautoradiography. This method was evaluated by using defined artificial mixtures of Escherichia coli andHerpetosiphon aurantiacus under aerobic incubation conditions with added [3H]glucose. Subsequently, we were able to demonstrate the potential of this method by visualizing the uptake of organic and inorganic radiolabeled substrates ([14C]acetate, [14C]butyrate, [14C]bicarbonate, and 33Pi) in probe-defined populations from complex activated sludge microbial communities by using aerobic incubation conditions and anaerobic incubation conditions (with and without nitrate). For both defined cell mixtures and activated sludge, the method proved to be useful for simultaneous identification and analysis of the uptake of labeled substrates under the different experimental conditions used. Optimal results were obtained when fluorescently labeled oligonucleotides were applied prior to the microautoradiographic developing procedure. For single-cell resolution of FISH and microautoradiographic signals within activated sludge flocs, cryosectioned sample material was examined with a confocal laser scanning microscope. The combination of in situ rRNA hybridization techniques, cryosectioning, microautoradiography, and confocal laser scanning microscopy provides a unique opportunity for obtaining cultivation-independent insights into the structure and function of bacterial communities.

scholarly journals High Rates of Conjugation in Bacterial Biofilms as Determined by Quantitative In Situ Analysis

1999 ◽  
Vol 65 (8) ◽  
pp. 3710-3713 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martina Hausner ◽  
Stefan Wuertz
Keyword(s):  
Laser Scanning ◽  
Nutrient Concentration ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Laser Scanning Microscopy ◽  
Confocal Laser ◽  
Bacterial Biofilms ◽  
Conjugative Gene Transfer ◽  
Biofilm Structure

ABSTRACT Quantitative in situ determination of conjugative gene transfer in defined bacterial biofilms using automated confocal laser scanning microscopy followed by three-dimensional analysis of cellular biovolumes revealed conjugation rates 1,000-fold higher than those determined by classical plating techniques. Conjugation events were not affected by nutrient concentration alone but were influenced by time and biofilm structure.

Considerations in the use of fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and confocal laser scanning microscopy to characterize rumen methanogens and define their spatial distributions

2015 ◽  
Vol 61 (6) ◽  
pp. 417-428 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edith R. Valle ◽  
Gemma Henderson ◽  
Peter H. Janssen ◽  
Faith Cox ◽  
Trevor W. Alexander ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Distribution ◽  
In Situ Hybridization ◽  
16S Rrna ◽  
Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization ◽  
Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy ◽  
Laser Scanning ◽  
Laser Scanning Microscopy ◽  
Confocal Laser Scanning ◽  
Confocal Laser

In this study, methanogen-specific coenzyme F420autofluorescence and confocal laser scanning microscopy were used to identify rumen methanogens and define their spatial distribution in free-living, biofilm-, and protozoa-associated microenvironments. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) with temperature-controlled hybridization was used in an attempt to describe methanogen diversity. A heat pretreatment (65 °C, 1 h) was found to be a noninvasive method to increase probe access to methanogen RNA targets. Despite efforts to optimize FISH, 16S rRNA methanogen-specific probes, including Arch915, bound to some cells that lacked F420, possibly identifying uncharacterized Methanomassiliicoccales or reflecting nonspecific binding to other members of the rumen bacterial community. A probe targeting RNA from the methanogenesis-specific methyl coenzyme M reductase (mcr) gene was shown to detect cultured Methanosarcina cells with signal intensities comparable to those of 16S rRNA probes. However, the probe failed to hybridize with the majority of F420-emitting rumen methanogens, possibly because of differences in cell wall permeability among methanogen species. Methanogens were shown to integrate into microbial biofilms and to exist as ecto- and endosymbionts with rumen protozoa. Characterizing rumen methanogens and defining their spatial distribution may provide insight into mitigation strategies for ruminal methanogenesis.

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