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Spatial Architecture of Nitrifying Bacteria Biofilm Immobilized on Polyurethane Foam in an Automatic Biodetector for Water Toxicity

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2010

Andrzej Woznica ,
Jagna Karcz ,
Agnieszka Nowak ,
Aleksander Gmur  and
Tytus Bernas
Andrzej Woznica*
Affiliation:
Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Silesia, 40-032 Katowice, Poland,
Jagna Karcz
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Scanning Electron Microscopy, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Silesia, 40-032 Katowice, Poland,
Agnieszka Nowak
Affiliation:
Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Silesia, 40-032 Katowice, Poland,
Aleksander Gmur
Affiliation:
Department of Radiology, District Hospital, 43-200 Pszczyna, Poland
Tytus Bernas
Affiliation:
Department of Plant Anatomy & Cytology, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Silesia, 40-032 Katowice, Poland Department of Physiology and Medical Physics, RCSI, Dublin 2, Ireland
*
Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected]
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Abstract

We describe the architecture of nitrifying bacteria biofilms immobilized on a three-dimensional (3D) polyurethane foam that permits efficient water flow through a bioreactor. The 3D spatial organization of immobilized bacterial colonies is characterized on three resolution levels with X-ray tomography, light confocal microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Using these techniques we demonstrate biofilm distribution in the foam and the existence of several modes of binding of bacteria to the foam. Computed X-ray tomography permits observation of the distribution of the biofilm in the whole open cellular polyurethane material volume and estimation of biofilm volume. SEM and confocal laser scanning microscopy techniques permit 3D visualization of biofilm structure. Three distinct immobilization patterns could be observed in the open cellular polyurethane material: (1) large irregular aggregates of bacterial biofilm that exist as irregular biofilm fragments, rope-like structures, or biofilm layers on the foam surface; (2) spherical (pom-pom) aggregates of bacteria localized on the external surface of biofilm; and (3) biofilm threads adherent to the surface of polyurethane foam. Finally, we demonstrate that immobilized bacteria exhibit metabolic activity and growth.

Keywords

biofilmnitrifying bacteriaCLSMSEMX-ray computed tomographyimage processing visualization
Type
Biological Applications
Information
Microscopy and Microanalysis , Volume 16 , Issue 5 , October 2010 , pp. 550 - 560
Copyright
Copyright © Microscopy Society of America 2010

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References

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