[16] Phenotype characterization of genetically defined microorganisms and growth of bacteriophage in biofilms

McLean, Robert; Corbin, Brian D.; Balzer, Grant J.; Aron, Gary M.

doi:10.1016/s0076-6879(01)36588-6

Cited by 10 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 39 publications

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“…Stanley et al [45], in a study of Bacillus subtilis , reported that approximately 6% of the genes were differentially expressed with a biofilm; these genes involved metabolism, motility and phage‐related functions. It has even been suggested, although not confirmed experimentally, that some phage may be better adapted to grow in biofilms or in mixed cultures [46]. This is perhaps also an area that requires to be studied in parallel with further examination of the effects of phage on biofilms.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The interaction of phage and biofilms

Sutherland

Hughes

Skillman

et al. 2004

FEMS Microbiology Letters

305

241

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Biofilms present complex assemblies of micro-organisms attached to surfaces. They are dynamic structures in which various metabolic activities and interactions between the component cells occur. When phage come in contact with biofilms, further interactions occur dependent on the susceptibility of the biofilm bacteria to phage and to the availability of receptor sites. If the phage also possess polysaccharide-degrading enzymes, or if considerable cell lysis is effected by the phage, the integrity of the biofilm may rapidly be destroyed. Alternatively, coexistence between phage and host bacteria within the biofilm may develop. Although phage have been proposed as a means of destroying or controlling biofilms, the technology for this has not yet been successfully developed. ß 2004 Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of the Federation of European Microbiological Societies.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The interaction of phage and biofilms

Sutherland

Hughes

Skillman

et al. 2004

FEMS Microbiology Letters

305

241

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“…Historically, however, it is restriction-modification systems as well as abortive infection systems, along with superinfection immunity [71], which have been most widely appreciated. In addition, and well known though minimally studied, is bacterial entrance into stationary phase-like states [60],[72], which at a minimum for most phages seems to interfere with the progression of phage productive infections, perhaps including phage progression into biofilms [73],[74]. This stationary-phase interference with phage infection, however, is not necessarily irreversible nor always complete [75]–[82].…”

Section: Bacterial Resistance To Phagesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Bacteria—especially as found within biofilms—also may resist phage-mediated eradication [84] by at least partially interfering with virion diffusion via the display of extracellular polymeric substances (EPSs) [9],[60],[72],[73],[85]–[89]. See Figure 5C of [90] as possible illustration.…”

Section: Bacterial Resistance To Phagesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The basis for this doubt is that laboratory-grown biofilms often are somewhat susceptible to phages [74],[81],[97],[98]. Furthermore, there presumably are phages that exist which may be particularly effective at infecting biofilm-associated bacteria [62],[72], e.g., such as due to phage display of biofilm-matrix degrading depolymerases [21],[60],[73],[74],[81],[113]–[116]. In addition, logically it seems unlikely that phages are inherently unable to exploit to at least some degree bacteria displaying this common life style.…”

Section: Microcolony Resistance To Phagesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Phage “delay” towards enhancing bacterial escape from biofilms: a more comprehensive way of viewing resistance to bacteriophages

Abedon

2017

AIMS Microbiology

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In exploring bacterial resistance to bacteriophages, emphasis typically is placed on those mechanisms which completely prevent phage replication. Such resistance can be detected as extensive reductions in phage ability to form plaques, that is, reduced efficiency of plating. Mechanisms include restriction-modification systems, CRISPR/Cas systems, and abortive infection systems. Alternatively, phages may be reduced in their “vigor” when infecting certain bacterial hosts, that is, with phages displaying smaller burst sizes or extended latent periods rather than being outright inactivated. It is well known, as well, that most phages poorly infect bacteria that are less metabolically active. Extracellular polymers such as biofilm matrix material also may at least slow phage penetration to bacterial surfaces. Here I suggest that such “less-robust” mechanisms of resistance to bacteriophages could serve bacteria by slowing phage propagation within bacterial biofilms, that is, delaying phage impact on multiple bacteria rather than necessarily outright preventing such impact. Related bacteria, ones that are relatively near to infected bacteria, e.g., roughly 10+ µm away, consequently may be able to escape from biofilms with greater likelihood via standard dissemination-initiating mechanisms including erosion from biofilm surfaces or seeding dispersal/central hollowing. That is, given localized areas of phage infection, so long as phage spread can be reduced in rate from initial points of contact with susceptible bacteria, then bacterial survival may be enhanced due to bacteria metaphorically “running away” to more phage-free locations. Delay mechanisms—to the extent that they are less specific in terms of what phages are targeted—collectively could represent broader bacterial strategies of phage resistance versus outright phage killing, the latter especially as require specific, evolved molecular recognition of phage presence. The potential for phage delay should be taken into account when developing protocols of phage-mediated biocontrol of biofilm bacteria, e.g., as during phage therapy of chronic bacterial infections.

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“…The ratio between the measured bacteria in the biofilm and maximal bacteria number at tight packing represents the volumetric fraction occupied by bacterial cells in the actual biofilm. The obtained value of 7.52% fits within the range of values observed in bacterial biofilms (Corbin et al ., 2001; McLean et al ., 2001; Flemming and Wingender, 2010).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

E. coli biofilm formation and its susceptibility towards T4 bacteriophages studied in a continuously operating mixing – tubular bioreactor system

Lisac

Birsa

Podgornik

2022

Microbial Biotechnology

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Summary A system consisting of a connected mixed and tubular bioreactor was designed to study bacterial biofilm formation and the effect of its exposure to bacteriophages under different experimental conditions. The bacterial biofilm inside silicone tubular bioreactor was formed during the continuous pumping of bacterial cells at a constant physiological state for 2 h and subsequent washing with a buffer for 24 h. Monitoring bacterial and bacteriophage concentration along the tubular bioreactor was performed via a piercing method. The presence of biofilm and planktonic cells was demonstrated by combining the piercing method, measurement of planktonic cell concentration at the tubular bioreactor outlet, and optical microscopy. The planktonic cell formation rate was found to be 8.95 × 10−3 h−1 and increased approximately four‐fold (4×) after biofilm exposure to an LB medium. Exposure of bacterial biofilm to bacteriophages in the LB medium resulted in a rapid decrease of biofilm and planktonic cell concentration, to below the detection limit within < 2 h. When bacteriophages were supplied in the buffer, only a moderate decrease in the concentration of both bacterial cell types was observed. After biofilm washing with buffer to remove unadsorbed bacteriophages, its exposure to the LB medium (without bacteriophages) resulted in a rapid decrease in bacterial concentration: again below the detection limit in < 2 h.

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[16] Phenotype characterization of genetically defined microorganisms and growth of bacteriophage in biofilms

Cited by 10 publications

References 39 publications

The interaction of phage and biofilms

The interaction of phage and biofilms

Phage “delay” towards enhancing bacterial escape from biofilms: a more comprehensive way of viewing resistance to bacteriophages

E. coli biofilm formation and its susceptibility towards T4 bacteriophages studied in a continuously operating mixing – tubular bioreactor system

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