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Updated: Jul 9, 2026
Colorimetric Analysis of Alkaline Phosphatase Activity in S. aureus Biofilm
Published on: April 12, 2019
A new colorimetric microtitre model for the detection of Staphylococcus aureus biofilms
K Toté1, D Vanden Berghe, L Maes
1Laboratory for Microbiology, Parasitology and Hygiene, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020 Antwerp, Belgium. kim.tote@ua.ac.be
Aims:
Research on biofilms requires validated quantitative models that focus both on matrix and viable bacterial mass. In this study, a new microplate model for the detection of Staphylococcus aureus biofilms was developed.
Methods And Results:
Dimethyl methylene blue (DMMB) dye was used to quantify biofilm matrix colorimetrically. Initially developed for the detection of glycosaminoglycans, the DMMB protocol was optimized for S. aureus biofilm research. In addition, the redox indicator resazurin was used to determine the viable bacterial biofilm burden.
Conclusion:
A new, simple and reproducible microplate test system based on DMMB and resazurin, offering a reliable differentiation between biofilm matrix and cellular activity, was developed and validated for the detection of S. aureus biofilms.
Significance And Impact Of The Study:
The DMMB-resazurin microtitre plate model is a valuable tool for high capacity screening of biocides and for the development of synergistic mixtures of biocides, destroying both biofilm matrix and bacteria.
