tag: biofilm

Dynamic changes in microbial community structure and function in phenol-degrading microcosms inoculated with cells from a contaminated aquifer

Contamination of aquifers by organic pollutants threatens groundwater supplies and the environment. In situ biodegradation of organic pollutants by microbial communities is important for the remediation of contaminated sites, but our understanding of the relationship between microbial development and pollutant biodegradation is poor. A particular challenge is understanding the in …

Quantification of biofilm and planktonic communities

Biofilms are difficult to quantify especially when microscopic observations are impractical. However it is important to quantify attached cell numbers to complement planktonic cell counts in order to achieve a holistic understanding of microbial processes. Traditional counting methods, including microscopic techniques and serial dilution plating, generally require biofilms to be …

Bacterial Biofilm Development on Hydroxyapatite-Coated Glass

Glass plates are frequently used as the substratum in flow cell experiments to allow continuous non-destructive observations of biofilm development via microscopy. The aim of this study was to evaluate hydroxyapatite-coated glass as a substratum for flow cell experiments, in comparison to plain glass, for modelling primary colonization of the …