Open AccessBiofilm culture of Pseudomonas aeruginosa expressing lux genes as a model to study susceptibility to antimicrobials
Author(s) -
Parveen Abida,
Smith Gillian,
Salisbury Vyvyan,
Nelson Shona M.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
fems microbiology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.899
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1574-6968
pISSN - 0378-1097
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-6968.2001.tb10660.x
Subject(s) - biofilm , bioluminescence , pseudomonas aeruginosa , microbiology and biotechnology , ciprofloxacin , antimicrobial , bacteria , biology , pseudomonas , population , pseudomonadaceae , in vitro , pseudomonadales , antibacterial agent , chemistry , antibiotics , biochemistry , medicine , genetics , environmental health
A simple in vitro model for culture of biofilm populations of self‐bioluminescent Pseudomonas aeruginosa was used for real‐time monitoring of the effects of ciprofloxacin. Biofilms of these organisms were established within Sorbarod filters, perfused with a chemically defined simple salts medium. The biofilm population was shown to achieve a pseudo‐steady state which was reproducible and stable over several days. The viability of membrane‐associated and eluted cells was assessed by spread plate viable counts and by monitoring bioluminescence as a measure of metabolic activity. Pseudo‐steady state biofilms were exposed to 5× MIC ciprofloxacin (0.3 mg l −1 ) in the perfusing medium for 1 h. Whilst both methods for viability assessment indicated an immediate reduction in viable cell numbers, the decline recorded with bioluminescence was greater. The use of bioluminescent bacteria proved to be a rapid and sensitive method for the measurement of real‐time antibacterial effects on a bacterial biofilm.