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- 2016 (2) (entfernen)
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- Englisch (2)
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- Image analysis (2)
- Microscopy (2)
- Biofilm (1)
- Biofilm cultivation (1)
- Biofouling (1)
- Escherichia coli (1)
- Subaerial and subaquatic biofilm (1)
Biofilm formation on materials leads to high costs in industrial processes, as well as in medical applications. This fact has stimulated interest in the development of new materials with improved surfaces to reduce bacterial colonization. Standardized tests relying on statistical evidence are indispensable to evaluate the quality and safety of these new materials. We describe here a flow chamber system for biofilm cultivation under controlled conditions with a total capacity for testing up to 32 samples in parallel. In order to quantify the surface colonization, bacterial cells were DAPI (4‘,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole)-stained and examined with epifluorescence microscopy. More than 100 images of each sample were automatically taken and the surface coverage was estimated using the free open source software g’mic, followed by a precise statistical evaluation. Overview images of all gathered pictures were generated to dissect the colonization characteristics of the selected model organism Escherichia coli W3310 on different materials (glass and implant steel). With our approach, differences in bacterial colonization on different materials can be quantified in a statistically validated manner. This reliable test procedure will support the design of improved materials for medical, industrial, and environmental (subaquatic or subaerial) applications.
The formation of biofilms on different materials provokes high costs in industrial processes, as well as in medical applications. Therefore, the interest in development of new materials with improved surfaces to reduce bacterial colonization rises. In order to evaluate the quality and safety of these new materials, it is highly important to ensure world-wide comparable tests that are relying on statistical evidence. The only way to reach this statistical safety is through a high-throughput Screening under standardized test conditions.
We developed a flow through system for cultivation of biofilm-forming bacteria under controlled conditions with a total capacity for testing up to 32 samples in parallel. Quantification of the surface colonization was done by staining the bacterial cells with a fluorescence marker, followed by epifluorescence microscopy. More than 100 images of each sample were automatically taken and the surface coverage was estimated with the free open source software gmic (http://gmic.eu), followed by a precise statistical evaluation. Overview images of all gathered pictures of the whole material coupon were generated to illuminate the colonization characteristics of the selected bacteria on certain materials.
With this method, differences in bacterial colonization on different materials can be quantified in a statistically validated manner. The innovative and solid test procedure will support the design of improved materials for medical and industrial applications such as implants, ship hulls, pipelines, heat exchangers, aquaculture equipments, photovoltaic-panels and fundaments of wind power plants.