scholarly journals The Relative Importance of Shear Forces and Surface Hydrophobicity on Biofilm Formation by Coccoid Cyanobacteria

Polymers ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 653 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sara I. Faria ◽  
Rita Teixeira-Santos ◽  
Maria J. Romeu ◽  
João Morais ◽  
Vitor Vasconcelos ◽  
...  

Understanding the conditions affecting cyanobacterial biofilm development is crucial to develop new antibiofouling strategies and decrease the economic and environmental impact of biofilms in marine settings. In this study, we investigated the relative importance of shear forces and surface hydrophobicity on biofilm development by two coccoid cyanobacteria with different biofilm formation capacities. The strong biofilm-forming Synechocystis salina was used along with the weaker biofilm-forming Cyanobium sp. Biofilms were developed in defined hydrodynamic conditions using glass (a model hydrophilic surface) and a polymeric epoxy coating (a hydrophobic surface) as substrates. Biofilms developed in both surfaces at lower shear conditions contained a higher number of cells and presented higher values for wet weight, thickness, and chlorophyll a content. The impact of hydrodynamics on biofilm development was generally stronger than the impact of surface hydrophobicity, but a combined effect of these two parameters strongly affected biofilm formation for the weaker biofilm-producing organism. The antibiofilm performance of the polymeric coating was confirmed at the hydrodynamic conditions prevailing in ports. Shear forces were shown to have a profound impact on biofilm development in marine settings regardless of the fouling capacity of the existing flora and the hydrophobicity of the surface.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sara I. Faria ◽  
Rita Teixeira-Santos ◽  
Maria J. Romeu ◽  
João Morais ◽  
Vítor Vasconcelos ◽  
...  

<p>Biofouling is a natural process in marine environments with associated economic and ecological problems. Thus, understanding the conditions that affect cyanobacterial biofilm development is crucial to develop new antibiofouling strategies and decrease the impact of biofilms in the marine environment. In this study, we investigated the relative importance of shear forces and surface hydrophobicity on biofilm development by two coccoid cyanobacteria with different biofilm formation capacities. The strong biofilm-forming <em>Synechocystis salina</em> was used along with the weaker biofilm-forming <em>Cyanobium</em> sp. Biofilms were developed in defined hydrodynamic conditions using glass (a model hydrophilic surface) and a polymeric epoxy coating (a hydrophobic surface) as substrates. Biofilms developed in both surfaces at lower shear conditions contained a higher number of cells and presented higher values for wet weight, thickness, and chlorophyll <em>a</em> content. The impact of hydrodynamics on biofilm development was generally stronger than the impact of surface hydrophobicity, but a combined effect of these two parameters strongly affected biofilm formation for the weaker biofilm-producing organism. The antibiofilm performance of the polymeric coating was confirmed at the hydrodynamic conditions prevailing in ports. Shear forces were shown to have a profound impact on biofilm development in marine settings regardless of the fouling capacity of the existing flora and the hydrophobicity of the surface.</p>


Author(s):  
Yi Wang ◽  
Lakshman P Samaranayake ◽  
Gary A Dykes

Abstract We hypothesized that the initial events leading to biofilm formation by bacteria, in general, are predominantly mediated by cell surface physicochemical interactions, and that natural products can impact the process by altering cell surface physicochemical properties. We exemplified this phenomenon using Actinomyces naeslundii as the model organism, and using tea products to modify its cell surface physicochemical properties. To test the hypothesis, a non-linear multiple regression model incorporating a normal distribution curve was constructed to explain the impact of tea extracts on the physiochemical processes of biofilm formation by A. naeslundii. The model utilized tea extract-induced changes in cell surface physicochemical properties as independent variables, and the corresponding biofilm formation as a dependent variable. Five different tea extracts were used to treat A. naeslundii, and their impact on the cell surface hydrophobicity, charge, auto-aggregation, attachment and biofilm formation on four different hard surfaces were measured and the data were used to construct the model. The established model was then tested in independent experiments involving other plant extracts and purified phytochemicals. Experimental results showed that the tea extracts significantly reduced cell surface hydrophobicity (by up to 21.3%), increased cell surface charge and auto-aggregation (by up to 4.5 mV and 14.9%, respectively), inhibited attachment (by 0.6–2.5 log CFU cm−2) and affected biofilm formation (by up to 0.6 log CFU cm−2). The model indicated that both cell surface hydrophobicity and charge played an important role in bacterial auto-aggregation and attachment, and that the latter two phenomena significantly correlated with subsequent biofilm development. The accuracy of the model construct was approximately 64%. This modelling approach can be employed for other microbial colonization systems to predict biofilm formation, and to study the impact of cell surface physicochemical properties in biofilm development.


Biofilms ◽  
2008 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Y. Yang

ABSTRACTAlthough gravitational deposition is generally regarded to be important during biofilm development because it provides a mechanism by which bacteria can come into contact with a surface, this process is usually neglected in most biofilm studies. The purpose of this study was to develop a better understanding of the effect of gravitational deposition by comparing the development of biofilms on the upper and lower surfaces of a capillary glass tube biofilm reactor under various hydrodynamic conditions. Pure cultures ofPseudomonas fluorescensandShewanella oneidensisMR-1 were used for the test. Results demonstrated that gravitational deposition significantly influences biofilm development under slow laminar flow conditions, which may be attributable to the effect of gravity on both attachment and detachment during the initial reversible attachment phase and the later development phase. Additionally, it was shown that hydrodynamic conditions have the potential to reduce the impact of gravitational deposition on biofilm development, and that this became less significant with an increase in flow rate. These results will be useful for comparing biofilm development in different biofilm systems.


2005 ◽  
Vol 187 (23) ◽  
pp. 8114-8126 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher J. Southey-Pillig ◽  
David G. Davies ◽  
Karin Sauer

ABSTRACT Phenotypic and genetic evidence supporting the notion of biofilm formation as a developmental process is growing. In the present work, we provide additional support for this hypothesis by identifying the onset of accumulation of biofilm-stage specific proteins during Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm maturation and by tracking the abundance of these proteins in planktonic and three biofilm developmental stages. The onset of protein production was found to correlate with the progression of biofilms in developmental stages. Protein identification revealed that proteins with similar function grouped within similar protein abundance patterns. Metabolic and housekeeping proteins were found to group within a pattern separate from virulence, antibiotic resistance, and quorum-sensing-related proteins. The latter were produced in a progressive manner, indicating that attendant features that are characteristic of biofilms such as antibiotic resistance and virulence may be part of the biofilm developmental process. Mutations in genes for selected proteins from several protein production patterns were made, and the impact of these mutations on biofilm development was evaluated. The proteins cytochrome c oxidase, a probable chemotaxis transducer, a two-component response regulator, and MexH were produced only in mature and late-stage biofilms. Mutations in the genes encoding these proteins did not confer defects in growth, initial attachment, early biofilm formation, or twitching motility but were observed to arrest biofilm development at the stage of cell cluster formation we call the maturation-1 stage. The results indicated that expression of theses genes was required for the progression of biofilms into three-dimensional structures on abiotic surfaces and the completion of the biofilm developmental cycle. Reverse transcription-PCR analysis confirmed the detectable change in expression of the respective genes ccoO, PA4101, and PA4208. We propose a possible mechanism for the role of these biofilm-specific proteins in biofilm formation.


2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark Feldman ◽  
Julia Shenderovich ◽  
Eran Lavy ◽  
Michael Friedman ◽  
Doron Steinberg

Thiazolidinediones (TZDs) have been found to act as effective quorum sensing quenchers, capable of preventing biofilm formation. Our previous studies demonstrated a profound antibiofilm effect of the TZD derivative thiazolidinedione-8 (S-8), either in solution or incorporated into a sustained-release membrane (SRM-S-8) under batch conditions. In the present study, we used a constant depth film fermenter model in order to investigate the impact of SRM-S-8 on mixedC. albicans-S. mutansbiofilm development, under flow conditions. We found that essential parameters of cospecies biofilm maintenance and maturation, such as metabolic activity, biofilm thickness, roughness, extracellular polysaccharides production, and morphology of both pathogens, were altered by SRM-S-8 in the flow system. We propose that prolonged and sustained release of S-8 in a flow-through system allows better penetration of the active agent to deeper layers of the mixed biofilm, thereby increasing its activity against both pathogens. In conclusion, the use of a locally applied sustained-release drug delivery system of S-8 can affect the dental polymicrobial biofilm, resulting in clinical improvements and a better patient compliance.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lydie Ploux ◽  
Min Jin ◽  
Sophie Hellé ◽  
Cosette Betscha ◽  
Jean-Marc Strub ◽  
...  

<p>L- and D-Cateslytin (CTL) are antimicrobial peptides (AMP) derived from chromogranin A, a protein of the stress response system. Their antimicrobial properties have been thoroughly characterized and already exploited in biomaterials. However, effects on biofilms of yeast and bacteria have never been specifically addressed. We have investigated the impact of both L and D configurations of CTL on the growth of biofilms formed by Candida albicans, Escherichia coli or Staphylococcus aureus microorganisms.</p> <p>The study was conducted in different media and two strategies of treatment were tested, consisting of administrating the peptide either just at the beginning of biofilm development i.e. on just adhering pioneer microbial cells or on a biofilm already allowed to develop for 24h. We also considered whether the peptide was modified in contact with the medium or/and microbial metabolites. Planktonic and sessile populations of microbial cells were analyzed by spectrophotometry, crystal violet staining, MTT and confocal microscopy with staining by Syto9Ò and propidium iodide. Identification of the peptides and their derived fragments was investigated by HPLC and Mass-Spectroscopy.</p> <p>In general, CTL-D exhibited higher antibiofilm performances than CTL-L. In addition, concentrations necessary to inhibit biofilm formation were found to vary from ten to eighty times the MICs determined in planktonic cultures. Nevertheless, the results also demonstrate that sessile microorganisms and biofilms are sensitive to CTL (L and D conformations) differently that planktonic populations. Significant (p-value < 0.01) effects were observed on both sessile and planktonic populations and with both strategies of treatments, but they highly varied with medium, species and CTL configuration. Typically, better antibiofilm effect than common antibiotics was reached in some specific conditions, while enhancement of aggregation or biofilm formation occurred in another medium and for other doses. Nevertheless,</p> <p>Finally, this confirms the quality of CTL peptides as new antimicrobial agents and reveals their anti-biofilm properties. This also specifies the conditions of use necessary to benefit of the highest performances.</p>


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sebastian Munoz ◽  
Benjamin F. Trueman ◽  
Bofu Li ◽  
Graham A. Gagnon

AbstractSodium silicates have been studied for sequestration of iron, coagulation, and corrosion control, but their impact on biofilm formation has not been documented in detail. This study investigated the impact of sodium silicate corrosion control on biomass accumulation in drinking water systems in comparison to orthophosphate, a common corrosion inhibitor. Biofilm growth was measured by determining ATP concentrations, and the bacterial community was characterized using 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) sequencing. A pilot-scale study with cast-iron pipe loops, annular reactors (ARs), and polycarbonate coupons demonstrated significantly lower biofilm ATP concentrations in the sodium silicate-treated AR than the orthophosphate-treated AR when the water temperature exceeded 20°C. However, an elevated sodium silicate dose (48 mg L-1 of SiO2) disturbed and dispersed the biofilm formed inside the AR, resulting in elevated effluent ATP concentrations. Two separate experiments confirmed that biomass accumulation was higher in the presence of orthophosphate at high water temperatures (20°C) only. No significant differences were identified in biofilm ATP concentrations at lower water temperatures (below 20°C). Differences in bacterial communities between the orthophosphate- and sodium silicate-treated systems were not statistically significant, even though orthophosphate promoted higher biofilm growth. However, the genera Halomonas and Mycobacterium—which include opportunistic pathogens—were present at greater relative abundances in the orthophosphate-treated system compared to the sodium silicate system.Graphical abstractOrthophosphate promotes more biofilm growth in comparison to sodium silicates at water temperatures above 20°C.Water impact statementSodium silicates have been used in drinking water treatment for decades, both as sequestrants and as corrosion inhibitors. However, their impact on biofilm formation is poorly understood, and this risks drinking water quality. This study aims to further clarify the effects of corrosion inhibitors on biofilm development, including inhibitors that are not phosphate-based.


2010 ◽  
Vol 47 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Krzysztof Rychert ◽  
Thomas Neu

Protozoan impact on bacterial biofilm formationConfocal laser scanning microscopy in combination with digital image analysis was used to assess the impact of protozoa on bacterial colonisation of surfaces. Bacterial biofilms were developed from activated sludge in microscope flow cells and were exposed to the grazing pressure of protozoa. The protozoan community from healthy activated sludge and a culture of flagellateBodo saltanswere used as grazers. Experiments comprised 48-h incubations in 3 treatment variants: bacteria with protozoa, bacteria with protozoa added after some time and bacteria without protozoa. When necessary, the elimination of protozoa from the inoculum was carried out with cycloheximide and NiSO4. Experiments demonstrated that protozoa from healthy activated sludge initially disturbed the biofilm development but later they could stimulate its growth. Similar results could be established in the experiment withBodo saltans(inoculum: 1000 cells/ml), however differences were not statistically significant. The finding that protozoa support biofilm development during specific stages may be relevant for biofilm studies with mixed environmental biofilm communities.


2018 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 140 ◽  
Author(s):  
Darakshan Alim ◽  
Shabnam Sircaik ◽  
Sneh Panwar

Candida albicans, the dimorphic opportunistic human fungal pathogen, is capable of forming highly drug-resistant biofilms in the human host. Formation of biofilm is a multistep and multiregulatory process involving various adaptive mechanisms. The ability of cells in a biofilm to alter membrane lipid composition is one such adaptation crucial for biofilm development in C. albicans. Lipids modulate mixed species biofilm formation in vivo and inherent antifungal resistance associated with these organized communities. Cells in C. albicans biofilms display phase-dependent changes in phospholipid classes and in levels of lipid raft formation. Systematic studies with genetically modified strains in which the membrane phospholipid composition can be manipulated are limited in C. albicans. In this review, we summarize the knowledge accumulated on the impact that alterations in phospholipids may have on the biofilm forming ability of C. albicans in the human host. This review may provide the requisite impetus to analyze lipids from a therapeutic standpoint in managing C. albicans biofilms.


2019 ◽  
Vol 201 (18) ◽  
Author(s):  
Michelle L. Korir ◽  
Jennifer L. Dale ◽  
Gary M. Dunny

ABSTRACTEnterococcus faecalisis a commensal of the human gastrointestinal tract; it is also an opportunistic pathogen and one of the leading causes of hospital-acquired infections.E. faecalisproduces biofilms that are highly resistant to antibiotics, and it has been previously reported that certain genes of theepaoperon contribute to biofilm-associated antibiotic resistance. Despite several studies examining theepaoperon, many gene products of this operon remain annotated as hypothetical proteins. Here, we further explore theepaoperon; we identifiedepaQ, currently annotated as encoding a hypothetical membrane protein, as being important for biofilm formation in the presence of the antibiotic daptomycin. Mutants with disruptions ofepaQwere more susceptible to daptomycin relative to the wild type, suggesting its importance in biofilm-associated antibiotic resistance. Furthermore, the ΔepaQmutant exhibited an altered biofilm architectural arrangement and formed small aggregates in liquid cultures. Our cumulative data show thatepamutations result in altered polysaccharide content, increased cell surface hydrophobicity, and decreased membrane potential. Surprisingly, severalepamutations significantly increased resistance to the antibiotic ceftriaxone, indicating that the way in which theepaoperon impacts antibiotic resistance is antibiotic dependent. These results further define the key role ofepain antibiotic resistance in biofilms and in biofilm architecture.IMPORTANCEE. faecalisis a common cause of nosocomial infection, has a high level of antibiotic resistance, and forms robust biofilms. Biofilm formation is associated with increased antibiotic resistance. Therefore, a thorough understanding of biofilm-associated antibiotic resistance is important for combating resistance. Several genes from theepaoperon have previously been implicated in biofilm-associated antibiotic resistance, pathogenesis, and competitive fitness in the GI tract, but most genes in this locus remain uncharacterized. Here, we examineepaQ,which has not been characterized functionally. We show that the ΔepaQmutant exhibits reduced biofilm formation in the presence of daptomycin, altered biofilm architecture, and increased resistance to ceftriaxone, further expanding our understanding of the contribution of this operon to intrinsic enterococcal antibiotic resistance and biofilm growth.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document