Burtsharpe2751

Moreover, each NRel population had a distinct, significantly increased susceptibility to killing by either a sulfonamide or β-lactam antibiotic compared to planktonic NTHI, an observation consistent with their individual proteomes and further supported by relative differences in targeted gene expression. The distinct phenotypes of NTHI released from biofilms by antibodies directed against specific epitopes of T4P or DNABII binding proteins provide new opportunities to develop targeted therapeutic strategies for biofilm eradication and disease resolution.The complexity of microbial biofilms offers several challenges to the use of traditional means of microbial research. In particular, it can be difficult to calculate accurate numbers of biofilm bacteria, because even after thorough homogenization or sonication, small pieces of the biofilm remain, which contain numerous bacterial cells and result in inaccurately low colony forming units (CFU). In addition, imaging of infected tissue ex vivo often results in a disparity between the CFU and the number of bacterial cells observed under the microscope. We hypothesized that this phenomenon is due to the biofilm extracellular polymeric substance decreasing the accessibility of stains and antibodies to the embedded bacterial cells. In this study, we describe incorporating EPS-degrading glycoside hydrolases for CFU determination to obtain a more accurate estimation of the viable cells and for immunohistochemistry to disrupt the biofilm matrix and increase primary antibody binding to the bacterial cells.[This corrects the article DOI 10.1016/j.bioflm.2019.100016.][This corrects the article DOI 10.1016/j.bioflm.2019.100012.][This corrects the article DOI 10.1016/j.bioflm.2019.100002.][This corrects the article DOI 10.1016/j.bioflm.2019.100018.][This corrects the article DOI 10.1016/j.bioflm.2019.100015.][This corrects the article DOI 10.1016/j.bioflm.2019.100009.][This corrects the article DOI 10.1016/j.bioflm.2020.100026.][This corrects the article DOI 10.1016/j.bioflm.2019.100013.][This corrects the article DOI 10.1016/j.bioflm.2019.100011.][This corrects the article DOI 10.1016/j.bioflm.2020.100023.][This corrects the article DOI 10.1016/j.bioflm.2020.100019.][This corrects the article DOI 10.1016/j.bioflm.2019.100004.].Interspecies interactions in bacterial biofilms have important impacts on the composition and function of communities in natural and engineered systems. To investigate these interactions, synthetic communities provide experimentally tractable systems. Biofilms grown on agar-surfaces have been used for investigating the eco-evolutionary and biophysical forces that determine community composition and spatial distribution of bacteria. Prior studies have used genetically identical bacterial strains and strains with specific mutations, that express different fluorescent proteins, to investigate intraspecies interactions. Here, we investigated interspecies interactions and, specifically, determined the community composition and spatial distribution in synthetic communities of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Pseudomonas protegens and Klebsiella pneumoniae. Using quantitative microscopic imaging, we found that interspecies interactions in multispecies colonies were influenced by type IV pilus mediated motility, extracellular matrix secretion, environmental parameters, and these effects were also influenced by the specific partner in the dual species combinations. These results indicate that the patterns observable in mixed species colonies can be used to understand the mechanisms that drive interspecies interactions, which are dependent on the interplay between specific species' physiology and environmental conditions.Microorganisms, such as bacteria, tend to aggregate and grow on surfaces, secreting extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), forming biofilms. Biofilm formation is a life strategy, because through it microorganisms can create their own microhabitats. Whether for remediation of pollutants or application in the biomedical field, several methodological approaches are necessary for a more accurate analysis of the role and potential use of bacterial biofilms. The use of computerized microtomography to monitor biofilm growth appears to be an advantageous tool due to its non-destructive character and its ability to render 2D and 3D visualization of the samples. In this study, we used several techniques such as analysis of microbiological parameters and biopolymer concentrations to corroborate porosity quantified by 2D and 3D imaging. Quantification of the porosity of samples by microtomography was verified by increased enzymatic activity and, consequently, higher EPS biopolymer synthesis to form biofilm, indicating growth of the biofilm over 96 h. Our interdisciplinary approach provides a better understanding of biofilm growth, enabling integrated use of these techniques as an important tool in bioremediation studies of environments impacted by pollutants.A definitive consensus on the optimal limb salvage protocol for infected total joints does not currently exist. Popular, is the two-stage revision which calls for the use of an antibiotic loaded spacer followed by a delayed exchange. Our question is whether single-stage revisions for biofilm based infected arthroplasties results in comparable or possibly better patient outcomes as compared to those reported for two-stage revisions. We retrospectively reviewed 500 cases of one-stage revisions for periprosthetic joint infections (PJI) using dual setup with radical debridement, definitive reconstruction with antibiotic loaded cement and implantation of antibiotic calcium sulfate pellets between the years 2005-2017. The revisions included 351 total knees, 122 hips, 2 hip-femur-knees, 13 shoulders, 10 elbows, and 2 shoulder-humerus-elbows. The patient population had a mean follow-up of 60 months (range 24 months-14 years) and mean patient age of 61 years old, consisting of 250 males and 250 females. Patient comorbidities were reviewed, classified using McPherson's staging for PJIs, and compared to the Cierny & Mader classification system. Successful treatment was defined as a joint without recurrence of infection, for a minimum of 2 years, and limb preservation. Based on our findings, one-stage revision of PJIs demonstrates at least as good an infection eradication rate as two-stage revision 88% vs 85% respectively.Wounds complicated by biofilms challenge even the best clinical care and can delay a return to duty for service members. A major component of treatment in wounded warriors includes infected wound management. check details Yet, all antibiotic therapy options have been optimized against planktonic bacteria, leaving an important gap in biofilm-related wound care. We tested the efficacy of a unique compound (CZ-01179) specifically synthesized to eradicate biofilms. CZ-01179 was formulated as the active agent in a hydrogel, and tested in vitro and in vivo in a pig excision wound model for its ability to treat and prevent biofilm-related wound infection caused by Acinetobacter baumannii. Data indicated that compared to a clinical standard-silver sulfadiazine-CZ-01179 was much more effective at eradicating biofilms of A. baumannii in vitro and up to 6 days faster at eradicating biofilms in vivo. CZ-01179 belongs to a broader class of newly-synthesized antibiofilm agents (referred to as CZ compounds) with reduced risk of resistance development, specific efficacy against biofilms, and promising formulation potential for clinical applications. Given its broad spectrum and biofilm-specific nature, CZ-01179 gel may be a promising agent to increase the pipeline of products to treat and prevent biofilm-related wound infections.The lungs of cystic fibrosis (CF) patients are often chronically colonized by multiple microbial species that can form biofilms, including the major CF pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Herewith, lower microbial diversity in CF airways is typically associated with worse health outcomes. In an attempt to treat CF lung infections patients are frequently exposed to antibiotics, which may affect microbial diversity. This study aimed at understanding if common antibiotics that target P. aeruginosa influence microbial diversity. To this end, a microaerophilic multispecies biofilm model of frequently co-isolated members of the CF lung microbiome (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus anginosus, Achromobacter xylosoxidans, Rothia mucilaginosa, and Gemella haemolysans) was exposed to antipseudomonal antibiotics. We found that antibiotics that affected several dominant species (i.e. ceftazidime, tobramycin) resulted in higher species evenness compared to colistin, which is only active against P. aeruginosa. Furthermore, susceptibility of individual species in the multispecies biofilm following antibiotic treatment was compared to that of the respective single-species biofilms, showing no differences. Adding three anaerobic species (Prevotella melaninogenica, Veillonella parvula, and Fusobacterium nucleatum) to the multispecies biofilm did not influence antibiotic susceptibility. In conclusion, our study demonstrates antibiotic-dependent effects on microbial community diversity of multispecies biofilms comprised of CF microbiome members.Microbial mats or biofilms are known to colonize a wide range of substrates in aquatic environments. These dense benthic communities efficiently recycle nutrients and often exhibit high tolerance to environmental stressors, characteristics that enable them to inhabit harsh ecological niches. In some special cases, floating biofilms form at the air-water interface residing on top of a hydrophobic microlayer. Here, we describe biofilms that reside at the air-air interface by forming gas bubbles (bubble biofilms) in the former Ytterby mine, Sweden. The bubbles are built by micrometer thick membrane-like biofilm that holds enough water to sustain microbial activity. Molecular identification shows that the biofilm communities are dominated by the neuston bacterium Nevskia. Gas bubbles contain mostly air with a slightly elevated concentration of carbon dioxide. Biofilm formation and development was monitored in situ using a time-lapse camera over one year, taking one image every second hour. The bubbles were stable over long periods of time (weeks, even months) and gas build-up occurred in pulses as if the bedrock suddenly exhaled. The result was however not a passive inflation of a dying biofilm becoming more fragile with time (as a result of overstretching of the organic material). To the contrary, microbial growth lead to a more robust, hydrophobic bubble biofilm that kept the bubbles inflated for extended periods (several weeks, and in some cases even months).The contribution of the biofilm extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) matrix to reduced antimicrobial susceptibility in biofilms is widely recognised. As such, the direct targeting of the EPS matrix is a promising biofilm control strategy that allows for the disruption of the matrix, thereby allowing a subsequent increase in susceptibility to antimicrobial agents. To this end, surface-functionalized nanoparticles (NPs) have received considerable attention. However, the fundamental understanding of the interactions occurring between engineered NPs and the biofilm EPS matrix has not yet been fully elucidated. An insight into the underlying mechanisms involved when a NP interacts with the EPS matrix will aid in the design of more efficient NPs for biofilm control. Here we demonstrate the use of highly specific fluorescent probes in confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) to illustrate the distribution of EPS macromolecules within the biofilm. Thereafter, a three-dimensional (3D) colocalization analysis was used to assess the affinity of differently functionalized silica NPs (SiNPs) and EPS macromolecules from Pseudomonas fluorescens biofilms.