Rev Iberoam Micol
2008; 25:37-40.
A seed and feed model for the formation of Candida albicans biofilms
under flow conditions using an improved modified Robbins device
Gordon Ramage1, Brian L. Wickes2 & José L. López-Ribot3
1Section of Infection and Immunity, Glasgow Dental School and Hospital,
The University of Glasgow, U.K;
2Dept. of Microbiology, The University of Texas Health Science Center
at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, USA;
3Dept. of Biology and South Texas Center for Emerging Infectious
Diseases, The University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, USA
A variety of manifestations of Candida albicans infections are
associated with the formation of biofilms on the surface of
biomaterials. In order to
maintain their niche these adherent populations need to withstand the
continuous
bathing action of physiological fluids (saliva, blood), which also
provide
water and nutrients to the fungal cells. Thus, it was the aim of this
study to
examine and further characterize the development of C. albicans
biofilms under
shear forces and a flow of replenishing nutrients, emulating the
conditions that
fungal cells would normally encounter within the host. An improved
modified Robbins
device (MRD) was designed to hold six poly methyl methacrylate (PMMA)
plugs of 25 mm in diameter. A “seed and feed” model of biofilm
formation was then implemented for which the apparatus was initially
seeded with a C.
albicans cell suspension to allow initial adhesion of fungal cells to
the
biomaterial. Following this initial step, sterile medium was then
pumped through the MRD at a
constant flow rate. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and confocal
scanning
laser microscopy (CSLM) demonstrated a high degree of heterogeneity
associated with the structure of biofilms formed under flowing
conditions using
the MRD. In addition, these biofilms displayed a complex three
dimensional
architecture and increased production of exopolymeric material.
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