A new approach to study attached biofilms and floating communities from Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains of various origins reveals diverse effects of divalent ions. Issue 14 (25th June 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gagné-Thivierge, Cynthia; Barbeau, Jean; Levesque, Roger C; Charette, Steve J
• Is Part Of: FEMS microbiology letters. Volume 365:Issue 14(2018:Jul.)
• Publication Date: 2018-06-25
• Subjects: Pseudomonas aeruginosa -- biofilm -- biofilm-like structures -- divalent ions -- image analysis; Microbiology -- Periodicals; 579
• DOI: 10.1093/femsle/fny155
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0378-1097

Abstract

Abstract: Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic pathogen associated with nosocomial infections and disease complications. In the lungs of cystic fibrosis (CF) individuals, biofilm growth plays a crucial role in the persistence and antibiotic resistance of P. aeruginosa . Some strains, adapted to the CF lung microenvironment, show distinguishable phenotypes linked to biofilm production when compared to other strains. Using a novel image analysis quantification approach with crystal violet-stained biofilms, we compared the biofilm formation of four different P. aeruginosa isolates in 24-well plates: PAO1, the reference strain, LESB58 from CF patients' lungs and PPF-1 and Urg-7, two environmental isolates from dental unit waterlines. We also observed the formation of biofilm-like structures (BLSs) floating in the medium and investigated growth inhibition of the attached biofilm and BLS with Mg 2+ or Zn 2+ . Urg-7 produced the most attached biofilms, but not the most BLSs. Attached biofilms had different responses to cations than BLSs did, but the effect of the cations was similar for all strains. These results demonstrate some diversity of biofilm formation in P. aeruginosa and indicate that chemical inhibition of attached biofilm formation for a specific strain or isolate cannot be predicative of a result on other P. aeruginosa strains or on BLSs. Abstract : This study demonstrates some diversity in biofilm formation by various P. aeruginosa strains and highlights the importance of studying other aggregation phenomenon than the usual formation of biofilms on surfaces.