Viscoelastic properties of Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis mono‐microbial biofilms |
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| Authors: | Antonio Di Stefano Eleonora D'Aurizio Oriana Trubiani Rossella Grande Emanuela Di Campli Mara Di Giulio Soraya Di Bartolomeo Piera Sozio Antonio Iannitelli Antonia Nostro Luigina Cellini |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Departments of Drug Sciences and;2. Department of Applied Sciences of Oral and Dental Diseases, University ‘G. d'Annunzio’, Chieti‐Pescara, Via dei Vestini 31, 66100 Chieti, Italy.;3. Biomedical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, and;4. Pharmaco‐Biological Department, Section of Microbiology, University of Messina, Villaggio Annunziata, 98168 Messina, Italy. |
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| Abstract: | The viscoelastic properties of mono‐microbial biofilms produced by ocular and reference staphylococcal strains were investigated. The microorganisms were characterized for their haemolytic activity and agr typing and the biofilms, grown on stainless steel surface under static conditions, were analysed by Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy. Static and dynamic rheometric tests were carried out to determine the steady‐flow viscosity and the elastic and viscous moduli. The analysed biofilms showed the typical time‐dependent behaviour of viscoelastic materials with considerable elasticity and mechanical stability except for Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 29213 biofilm which showed a very fragile structure. In particular, S. aureus 6ME biofilm was more compact than other staphylococcal biofilms studied with a yield stress ranging between 2 and 3 Pa. The data obtained in this work could represent a starting point for developing new therapeutic strategies against biofilm‐associated infections, such as improving the drug effect by associating an antimicrobial agent with a biofilm viscoelasticity modifier. |
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