The influence of surface materials on microbial biofilm formation in aviation fuel systems

The ability of different microbes to form biofilms on materials found in aviation fuel systems was assessed using both individual isolates and complex microbial communities. Biofilm formation by the Gram-negative bacterium, Pseudomonas putida, the fungus Amorphotheca resinae and the yeast, Candida tropicalis, was influenced by material surface properties although this differed between isolates. Biofilm formation was greatest at the fuel-water interface. The Gram-positive bacterium Rhodococcus erythropolis, in contrast, was able to grow on most surfaces. When a subset of materials was exposed to complex microbial communities, the attached microbial community structure was influenced by surface properties and selected for different genera best able to form biofilms on a specific surface. Distinct sub-populations of Pseudomonads were identified, which favoured growth on aluminium or painted surfaces, with a different subpopulation favouring growth on nitrile.