Metabolic Differentiation in Biofilms as Indicated by Carbon Dioxide Production Rates
- 15 February 2010
- journal article
- Published by American Society for Microbiology in Applied and Environmental Microbiology
- Vol. 76 (4), 1189-1197
- https://doi.org/10.1128/aem.01719-09
Abstract
The measurement of carbon dioxide production rates as an indication of metabolic activity was applied to study biofilm development and response of Pseudomonas sp. biofilms to an environmental disturbance in the form of a moving air-liquid interface (i.e., shear). A differential response in biofilm cohesiveness was observed after bubble perturbation, and the biofilm layers were operationally defined as either shear-susceptible or non-shear-susceptible. Confocal laser scanning microscopy and image analysis showed a significant reduction in biofilm thickness and biomass after the removal of the shear-susceptible biofilm layer, as well as notable changes in the roughness coefficient and surface-to-biovolume ratio. These changes were accompanied by a 72% reduction of whole-biofilm CO 2 production; however, the non-shear-susceptible region of the biofilm responded rapidly after the removal of the overlying cells and extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) along with the associated changes in nutrient and O 2 flux, with CO 2 production rates returning to preperturbation levels within 24 h. The adaptable nature and the ability of bacteria to respond to environmental conditions were further demonstrated by the outer shear-susceptible region of the biofilm; the average CO 2 production rate of cells from this region increased within 0.25 h from 9.45 ± 5.40 fmol of CO 2 ·cell −1 ·h −1 to 22.6 ± 7.58 fmol of CO 2 ·cell −1 ·h −1 when cells were removed from the biofilm and maintained in suspension without an additional nutrient supply. These results also demonstrate the need for sufficient monitoring of biofilm recovery at the solid substratum if mechanical methods are used for biofouling control.Keywords
This publication has 23 references indexed in Scilit:
- Planktonic cell yield is linked to biofilm developmentCanadian Journal of Microbiology, 2009
- Cells in shearable and nonshearable regions ofSalmonella entericaserovar Enteritidis biofilms are morphologically and physiologically distinctCanadian Journal of Microbiology, 2009
- CO 2 Production as an Indicator of Biofilm MetabolismApplied and Environmental Microbiology, 2009
- In Situ Determination of Bacterial Growth by Multiple Headspace Extraction Gas ChromatographyAnalytical Chemistry, 2008
- Stratification in the cohesion of biofilms grown under various environmental conditionsWater Research, 2008
- Spatial Patterns of DNA Replication, Protein Synthesis, and Oxygen Concentration within Bacterial Biofilms Reveal Diverse Physiological StatesJournal of Bacteriology, 2007
- Planktonic-Cell Yield of a Pseudomonad BiofilmApplied and Environmental Microbiology, 2005
- Specialized Persister Cells and the Mechanism of Multidrug Tolerance in Escherichia coliJournal of Bacteriology, 2004
- Stratified Growth in Pseudomonas aeruginosa BiofilmsApplied and Environmental Microbiology, 2004
- DNA replication and the division cycle in Escherichia coliJournal of Molecular Biology, 1967