Characterization of a modified rotating disk reactor for the cultivation of Staphylococcus epidermidis biofilm

Abstract

Aims: The purpose of this study was to develop a system that would allow biofilms to be cultivated under strictly defined conditions in terms of dissolved oxygen, fluid shear and to assess whether the method was suitable for the detection of respiratory activity stratification in biofilm samples. Methods: The system is a modified version a commercially available laboratory biofilm reactor and incorporates a number of features such as the provision of defined levels of dissolved oxygen, constant average shear, enhanced gas–liquid mass transfer, aseptic operation and the ability to remove biofilm for ex situ analysis during or after continuous cultivation. Conclusions: The system was shown to be effective for the characterization of the effects of dissolved oxygen on a pure culture of Staphylococcus epidermidis. The versatility of the system offers the potential for cultivating pure culture biofilm in defined, controlled conditions and facilitates a range of analyses that can be performed ex situ. Significance and Impact of the Study: The ability to provide strict regulation of environmental conditions and enhanced transfer of oxygen to the biofilm during cultivation are important, first because oxygen is known to regulate biofilm development in several micro‐organisms and second because many conventional biofilm cultivation systems may not provide adequate oxygen supply to the biofilm.

Residual Structure of Streptococcus mutans Biofilm following Complete Disinfection Favors Secondary Bacterial Adhesion and Biofilm Re-Development

“…S. mutans biofilms were developed on the disks using a rotating disk biofilm reactor (RDR; Biosurface Technologies Corp., Bozeman, MT). This system has been described in detail previously [ 35 ]. The disk was initially incubated for 90 min at 37°C in BHI broth containing a standard cell suspension with stirring at 75 rpm to achieve initial adhesion [ 36 ].…”

Comparison of periodontitis-associated oral biofilm formation under dynamic and static conditions

“…Biofilms grown in the CDC biofilm reactor contained less bacteria than those grown in the well plate; therefore, we suggest that the dynamic condition negatively influenced the adherence of bacteria. Fonseca and Sousa [ 18 ] noted that shear strength had a negative effect on the adherence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in the presence of antibiotics, and Cotter et al [ 19 ] identified a negative correlation between rotational speed and Staphylococcus epidermidis biofilm quantities. Our report agrees with their results, even though their reports were not about periodontal pathogens.…”

Testing Anti-Biofilm Polymeric Surfaces: Where to Start?

“…This method was subsequently developed into the standardized biofilm method ASTM E2196-17 [107] that describes the assessment of a P. aeruginosa biofilm grown with shear and continuous flow. For example, Cotter et al [145] tested the ability of S. epidermidis biofilm to grow on polyethylene coupons by the RD reactor. Barry et al [146] used the RD reactor to accelerate biofilm formation on latex samples from an external male catheter.…”