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A New Method for Qualitative Multi-scale Analysis of Bacterial Biofilms on Filamentous Fungal Colonies Using Confocal and Electron Microscopy

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Films of bacteria at interfaces.

Liana Vaccari¹, Mehdi Molaei¹, Tagbo H R Niepa¹

¹Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.

Advances in Colloid and Interface Science

|August 6, 2017

Summary

Bacteria form Films of Bacteria at Interfaces (FBI) at various liquid surfaces, influencing their collective motion and creating structures with potential applications in health and bioremediation.

Keywords:

Active colloids Biofilm Bioremediation Collective behavior Pellicles

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Area of Science:

Non-equilibrium statistical mechanics
Colloidal science
Microbiology
Interface science

Background:

Bacteria are active colloids exhibiting collective motion relevant to non-equilibrium statistical mechanics.
Bacterial behavior at fluid interfaces is crucial for understanding their collective dynamics and structure formation.
Fluid interfaces can modify bacterial motion due to adsorbed materials and altered boundary conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

To review and discuss the formation and properties of Films of Bacteria at Interfaces (FBI).
To explore the mechanics and physicochemical regulation of bacterial films at different interfaces.
To highlight potential applications of FBI in areas such as health and bioremediation.

Main Methods:

Review of existing literature on bacterial collective motion and interface phenomena.
Analysis of studies on bacterial film formation at air-water, oil-water, and water-water interfaces.
Discussion of film mechanics, physicochemical properties, and genetic influences on FBI.

Main Results:

Bacteria form diverse FBI structures at air-water (pellicles/biofilms), oil-water, and water-water interfaces.
FBI material properties vary by bacterial strain and can exhibit aging from active to elastic states.
Bacteria can colonize ultra-low surface tension interfaces, relevant to food industry applications.

Conclusions:

Films of Bacteria at Interfaces (FBI) represent a significant area of study in interfacial microbiology.
The physical and chemical properties of FBI are strain-dependent and can regulate their formation.
Understanding FBI offers potential applications in health, bioremediation, and industrial processes.