Estimation of a biofilm-specific reaction rate: kinetics of bacterial urea hydrolysis in a biofilm

Connolly, James M.; Jackson, Benjamin D.; Rothman, A.; Klapper, Isaac; Gerlach, Robin

doi:10.1038/npjbiofilms.2015.14

Cited by 20 publications

(23 citation statements)

References 35 publications

(21 reference statements)

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“…With the aid of modern software, reactive transport modelling enables the analysis of coupled physical, chemical, and biological processes in defined systems 193 . For instance, by using laboratory experiments to grow E. coli MJK2 biofilms in the presence of urea and by measuring the characteristics of the developed biofilm, Connolly et al 194 used COMSOL Multiphysics software (a finite element framework; COMSOL Inc., Burlington, MA, USA) to determine the kinetic coefficients of bacterial urea hydrolysis in the biofilm. Determination of biofilm-specific reaction rates can provide accurate microscale modelling of biofilm systems and, therefore, have potential applications in systems such as urethral catheters 195 .…”

Section: Multidisciplinary Approach To Managementmentioning

confidence: 99%

Current insights into the mechanisms and management of infection stones

et al. 2018

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Infection stones are complex aggregates of crystals amalgamated in an organic matrix that are strictly associated with urinary tract infections. The management of patients who form infection stones is challenging owing to the complexity of the calculi and high recurrence rates. The formation of infection stones is a multifactorial process that can be driven by urine chemistry , the urine microenvironment, the presence of modulator substances in urine, associations with bacteria, and the development of biofilms. Despite decades of investigation, the mechanisms of infection stone formation are still poorly understood. A mechanistic understanding of the formation and growth of infection stones-including the role of organics in the stone matrix, microorganisms, and biofilms in stone formation and their effect on stone characteristics-and the medical implications of these insights might be crucial for the development of improved treatments. Tools and approaches used in various disciplines (for example, engineering, chemistry , mineralogy , and microbiology) can be applied to further understand the microorganism-mineral interactions that lead to infection stone formation. Thus, the use of integrated multidisciplinary approaches is imperative to improve the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of infection stones.

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Section: Multidisciplinary Approach To Managementmentioning

confidence: 99%

Current insights into the mechanisms and management of infection stones

et al. 2018

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“…First-order relationships have been successfully used to describe microbial ureolysis (Lauchnor et al, 2015;Connolly et al, 2015). Indeed, while the Michaelis-Menten model has been used when evaluating ureolysis, studies of ureolysis-based carbonate precipitation have demonstrated that the first-order ureolysis rate model fits well for urea concentrations of 330 mM or below (Lauchnor et al, 2015;Connolly et al, 2015), which is the concentration range used in this study. The change in urea concentration was determined according to Eqs.…”

Section: Kinetics Of Ureolysis and Caco 3 Precipitationmentioning

confidence: 97%

Kinetics of calcite precipitation by ureolytic bacteria under aerobic and anaerobic conditions

et al. 2019

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Abstract. The kinetics of urea hydrolysis (ureolysis) and induced calcium carbonate (CaCO3) precipitation for engineering use in the subsurface was investigated under aerobic conditions using Sporosarcina pasteurii (ATCC strain 11859) as well as Bacillus sphaericus strains 21776 and 21787. All bacterial strains showed ureolytic activity inducing CaCO3 precipitation aerobically. Rate constants not normalized to biomass demonstrated slightly higher-rate coefficients for both ureolysis (kurea) and CaCO3 precipitation (kprecip) for B. sphaericus 21776 (kurea=0.10±0.03 h−1, kprecip=0.60±0.34 h−1) compared to S. pasteurii (kurea=0.07±0.02 h−1, kprecip=0.25±0.02 h−1), though these differences were not statistically significantly different. B. sphaericus 21787 showed little ureolytic activity but was still capable of inducing some CaCO3 precipitation. Cell growth appeared to be inhibited during the period of CaCO3 precipitation. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images suggest this is due to the encasement of cells and was reflected in lower kurea values observed in the presence of dissolved Ca. However, biomass regrowth could be observed after CaCO3 precipitation ceased, which suggests that ureolysis-induced CaCO3 precipitation is not necessarily lethal for the entire population. The kinetics of ureolysis and CaCO3 precipitation with S. pasteurii was further analyzed under anaerobic conditions. Rate coefficients obtained in anaerobic environments were comparable to those under aerobic conditions; however, no cell growth was observed under anaerobic conditions with NO3-, SO42- or Fe3+ as potential terminal electron acceptors. These data suggest that the initial rates of ureolysis and ureolysis-induced CaCO3 precipitation are not significantly affected by the absence of oxygen but that long-term ureolytic activity might require the addition of suitable electron acceptors. Variations in the ureolytic capabilities and associated rates of CaCO3 precipitation between strains must be fully considered in subsurface engineering strategies that utilize microbial amendments.

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“…Quantitative descriptions of urine flow and urine chemistry can be obtained using mathematical modeling along with the simulation of biofilm development and mineral precipitation similarly to work done in the development of engineered biomineralization technologies [32][33][34][35][36][37].…”

Section: Investigation Of Struvite Stone Formation Using In Vitro Andmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…An example of a user-friendly modeling program that can be used to model reactive transport is COMSOL Multiphysics® software (a finite element framework, COMSOL Inc., Burlington, MA, USA). Connolly et al [35] used this software to estimate biofilm-specific kinetics of ureolytic biofilms (E. coli MJK2) in flow systems. Estimating ureolysis biofilmkinetics along with other tools to characterize biofilms (e.g.…”

Section: Investigation Of Struvite Stone Formation Using In Vitro Andmentioning

confidence: 99%

Struvite Stone Formation by Ureolytic Biofilms

Espinosa-Ortiz

Gerlach

2019

The Role of Bacteria in Urology

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This chapter describes the role ureolytic biofilms (communities of microbes attached to surfaces) play in struvite stone formation in the urinary tract. The formation of struvite stones (MgNH4PO4 · 6H2O), commonly known as infection stones, is associated with urinary tract infections, particularly, with ureolytic microorganisms. Establishment of ureolytic biofilms in the urinary tract can result in increased microbial resistance to medical treatment and development of the necessary urine conditions to promote struvite (or other mineral) precipitation possibly leading to stone formation. Ureolytic microorganisms produce urease, an enzyme that breaks down urea (CO(NH2)2) generating ammonium (NH4 + ) and alkalizing urine, which changes urine chemistry to potentially promote struvite and other mineral precipitation. This chapter describes the series of steps involved in biofilm development and struvite precipitation leading to stone formation. Furthermore, this chapter presents an overview of controlled laboratory experiments and computer simulations currently used in different disciplines to study microbe-fluid-mineral interactions. We conclude that an interdisciplinary approach including the disciplines of engineering, mathematics, chemistry, microbiology and medicine will provide a more comprehensive understanding of the process of stone formation in the urinary tract and will ultimately allow for the development of improved management and prevention strategies for infection stones.

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Estimation of a biofilm-specific reaction rate: kinetics of bacterial urea hydrolysis in a biofilm

Cited by 20 publications

References 35 publications

Current insights into the mechanisms and management of infection stones

Current insights into the mechanisms and management of infection stones

Kinetics of calcite precipitation by ureolytic bacteria under aerobic and anaerobic conditions

Struvite Stone Formation by Ureolytic Biofilms

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