Tools for studying growth patterns and chemical dynamics of aggregated Pseudomonas aeruginosa exposed to different electron acceptors in an alginate bead model

• DOI: 10.1038/s41522-018-0047-4
• Publication Date: 2018-02-14T13:17:01Z
• Authors: Majken Sønderholm; Klaus Koren; Daniel Wangpraseurt; Peter Østrup Jensen; Mette Kolpen; Kasper Nørskov Kragh; Thomas Bjarnsholt; Michael Kühl
• Keywords: Bacterial growth; Electron acceptor; Matrix (chemical analysis)

Abstract In chronic infections, bacterial pathogens typically grow as small dense cell aggregates embedded in a matrix consisting of, e.g., wound bed sludge or lung mucus. Such biofilm growth mode exhibits extreme tolerance towards antibiotics and the immune defence system. The are exposed to physiological heterogeneity O 2 limitation due steep chemical gradients through matrix, which is hypothesised contribute antibiotic tolerance. Using novel combination of microsensor bioimaging analysis, we investigated patterns dynamics pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa an alginate bead model, mimics infections better than traditional experiments flow chambers. Growth were strongly affected by electron acceptor availability presence gradients, where combined nitrate yielded highest aerobic respiration denitrification.