Stay or Go: A Study on Oxygen Tension on the Biofilm Formation of Cystic Fibrosis Bacteria
- UNCP Author/Contributor (non-UNCP co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
- Brandon O. Blackwell (Creator)
- Institution
- The University of North Carolina at Pembroke (UNCP )
- Web Site: http://www.uncp.edu/academics/library
- Advisor
- Marilu E. Santos
Abstract: Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic pathogen commonly associated with mucus-involved disease processes such as cystic fibrosis. In the setting of cystic fibrosis where the airway is obstructed by mucus, the availability of oxygen is greatly reduced (Eschbach, 2004). The ability of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to form biofilms greatly contributes to its survival and virulence in the bronchial airways (Haley, 2012). This study investigated in vitro the effect of reduced oxygen tension on the biofilm formation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and on the biofilm formation of a “mock community” of bacterial species that are known to thrive with Pseudomonas biofilms in cystic fibrosis patients. It was predicted that with oxidative tension, Pseudomonas sp. and the mock community would form biofilms.Using BD™ Pseudomonas Isolation Agar, an overnight culture of Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853 was grown and spot inoculated on solid, semi-solid, and liquid culture media. Klebsiella pneumoniae ATCC 700603 and Streptococcus aureus ATCC 17503 were grown separately and together with P. aeruginosa in a “mock” community for 1 to 10 days at the human body temperature of 37°C and the ambient temperature of 25°C. The biofilm colony morphology on solid media was characterized, the depth of growth was measured from semi solid media and the optical density readings were obtained in liquid media. Results showed that biofilms grew larger and deeper when incubated at 37°C suggesting that the human body temperature favors biofilm formation. Oxidative tension favored the “go” or dispersal of biofilm cells both from single bacteria and “mock” community resulting to remarkably giant colonies. This study provided evidence of biofilm formation and a better understanding of biofilm behavior during oxidative tension.
Stay or Go: A Study on Oxygen Tension on the Biofilm Formation of Cystic Fibrosis Bacteria
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Created on 5/29/2015
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Additional Information
- Publication
- Honors Project
- Esther G. Maynor Honors College
- Language: English
- Date: 2015
- Keywords
- Cystic Fibrosis, Mucus-Involved Disease Processes, Biofilm Formation, Oxygen Tension