20] Laboratory techniques for studying biofilm growth, physiology, and gene expression in flowing systems and porous media

Abstract

Microbial physiology and gene expression within biofilms are best studied at the level of the individual cells and not in large populations. Although biofilm investigations are a relatively new aspect of microbiology, there are a number of different techniques for culturing them. The large diversity in biofilm culture techniques increases the difficulty of comparing results between laboratories. This chapter discusses several commonly used strategies for growing and studying biofilms in laboratory conditions. It highlights approaches commonly used in biofilm investigations. For transparent or translucent biofilms, these approaches include the Robbins' device (RD) and the flow cell used in microscopy. Foqopaque biofilms, the approaches include imaging nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and environmental scanning electron microscopy. A number of experimental devices have been used for biofilm colonization. These devices range from simple glass microscope slides suspended in liquid to rather complex laminar flow and turbulent flow systems coupled to a fermentor and computer. The chapter addresses some of the issues involved in culturing bacterial biofilms.