This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowReprints and Permissions
Right arrow Copyright Information
Right arrow Books from ASM Press
Right arrow MicrobeWorld
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Rani, S. A.
Right arrow Articles by Stewart, P. S.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Rani, S. A.
Right arrow Articles by Stewart, P. S.

 Previous Article  |  Next Article 

Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, February 2005, p. 728-732, Vol. 49, No. 2
0066-4804/05/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/AAC.49.2.728-732.2005
Copyright © 2005, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Rapid Diffusion of Fluorescent Tracers into Staphylococcus epidermidis Biofilms Visualized by Time Lapse Microscopy

Suriani Abdul Rani, Betsey Pitts, and Philip S. Stewart*

Center for Biofilm Engineering and Department of Chemical Engineering, Montana State University—Bozeman, Bozeman, Montana

Received 7 June 2004/ Returned for modification 10 August 2004/ Accepted 12 October 2004

The transient diffusion of fluorescent tracers into biofilm cell clusters of Staphylococcus epidermidis was visualized by time lapse confocal scanning laser microscopy. Rhodamine B diffused into the center of cell clusters that were 200 to 600 µm in diameter within a few minutes. The apparent effective diffusion coefficient calculated from these data averaged 3.7 x 10–7 cm2 s–1 or 11% of the value in pure water. Fluorescein diffused into biofilm more rapidly, with a diffusion coefficient that averaged 1.6 x 10–6 cm2 s–1, or 32% of the value in water. This study provides direct, visual confirmation that solutes the size of many antibiotics and biocides can diffuse rapidly into biofilms.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Center for Biofilm Engineering and Department of Chemical Engineering, Montana State University—Bozeman, Bozeman, MT 59717-3980. Phone: (406) 994-2890. Fax: (406) 994-6098. E-mail: phil_s{at}erc.montana.edu.

Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, February 2005, p. 728-732, Vol. 49, No. 2
0066-4804/05/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/AAC.49.2.728-732.2005
Copyright © 2005, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.



This article has been cited by other articles:

  • Takenaka, S., Pitts, B., Trivedi, H. M., Stewart, P. S. (2009). Diffusion of Macromolecules in Model Oral Biofilms. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 75: 1750-1753 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Takenaka, S., Trivedi, H. M., Corbin, A., Pitts, B., Stewart, P. S. (2008). Direct Visualization of Spatial and Temporal Patterns of Antimicrobial Action within Model Oral Biofilms. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 74: 1869-1875 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Patrauchan, M. A., Sarkisova, S. A., Franklin, M. J. (2007). Strain-specific proteome responses of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to biofilm-associated growth and to calcium. Microbiology 153: 3838-3851 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Xavier, J. B., Picioreanu, C., Rani, S. A., van Loosdrecht, M. C. M., Stewart, P. S. (2005). Biofilm-control strategies based on enzymic disruption of the extracellular polymeric substance matrix - a modelling study. Microbiology 151: 3817-3832 [Abstract] [Full Text]  


Copyright © 2009 by the American Society for Microbiology.   For an alternate route to Journals.ASM.org, visit: http://intl-journals.asm.org | More Info»