Critical review on biofilm methods

Abstract

Biofilms are widespread in nature and constitute an important strategy implemented by microorganisms to survive in sometimes harsh environmental conditions. They can be beneficial or have a negative impact particularly when formed in industrial settings or on medical devices. As such, research into the formation and elimination of biofilms is important for many disciplines. Several new methodologies have been recently developed for, or adapted to, biofilm studies that have contributed to deeper knowledge on biofilm physiology, structure and composition. In this review, traditional and cutting-edge methods to study biofilm biomass, viability, structure, composition and physiology are addressed. Moreover, as there is a lack of consensus among the diversity of techniques used to grow and study biofilms. This review intends to remedy this, by giving a critical perspective, highlighting the advantages and limitations of several methods. Accordingly, this review aims at helping scientists in finding the most appropriate and up-to-date methods to study their biofilms. ARTICLE HISTORY

Pathogenesis of Proteus mirabilis Infection

“…An important caveat for biofilm studies in general is that biofilms can be generated using many techniques, and the chosen method has a strong influence on the outcome of the study (292). For example, P. mirabilis mutants with altered biofilm in a high-throughput crystal violet screen had no correlation with time to blockage in a catheter/artificial bladder model (177).…”

Extracellular DNA in natural environments: features, relevance and applications

“…By then, exDNA was found to be omnipresent, and with this awareness, a variety of research foci on different natural environments emerged:The persistence and ecological relevance of exDNA in soil (reviewed by Levy-Booth et al 2007; Pietramellara et al 2009);The persistence, function and turnover of exDNA in marine and aquatic ecosystems (reviewed by Torti et al 2015);The occurrence, relevance of exDNA and possible exDNA-derived therapies in the human body (reviewed by Aucamp et al 2016; Cooper et al 2013; Thierry et al 2016);The importance and the functions of exDNA in the formation of biofilms of pathogenic and environmental microorganisms (reviewed by Montanaro et al 2011 and Wnorowska et al 2015 (exDNA), Hobley et al 2015 (biofilms in general), Wolska et al 2016 (genetic control), Payne and Boles 2016 (matrix interactions and resulting implications) and Azeredo et al 2017 (methods)).…”

Spatial Organization Plasticity as an Adaptive Driver of Surface Microbial Communities

“…Recent technological advances in methodologies including imaging and microscopy, molecular techniques, and physico-chemical assays, enabled the development of novel approaches dedicated to biofilm studies (Azeredo et al, 2017). The possibility to observe biofilm using high resolution and non-destructive methods now allows investigating the dynamics of multicellular structure development and the fate of each of its individual cellular components in parallel.…”