Nutrients determine the spatial architecture of Paracoccus sp. biofilm |
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Authors: | C. S. Srinandan Vipul Jadav D. Cecilia |
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Affiliation: | 1. Department of Microbiology and Biotechnology Centre, Faculty of Science , M. S. University of Baroda , Vadodara , Gujarat , India;2. National Institute of Virology , Pune , India |
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Abstract: | Bacterial biofilms adapt and shape their structure in response to varied environmental conditions. A statistical methodology was adopted in this study to empirically investigate the influence of nutrients on biofilm structural parameters deduced from confocal scanning laser microscope images of Paracoccus sp.W1b, a denitrifying bacterium. High concentrations of succinate, Mg++, Ca++, and Mn++ were shown to enhance biofilm formation whereas higher concentration of iron decreased biofilm formation. Biofilm formed at high succinate was uneven with high surface to biovolume ratio. Higher Mg++ or Ca++ concentrations induced cohesion of biofilm cells, but contrasting biofilm architectures were detected. Biofilm with subpopulation of pillar-like protruding cells was distributed on a mosaic form of monolayer cells in medium with 10 mM Mg++. 10 mM Ca++ induced a dense confluent biofilm. Denitrification activity was significantly increased in the Mg++- and Ca++-induced biofilms. Chelator treatment of various biofilm ages indicated that divalent cations are important in the initial stages of biofilm formation. |
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Keywords: | biofilm architecture denitrification image analysis statistical design of experiment divalent cations |
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