CO2 production as an indicator of biofilm metabolism.

ABSTRACT: Biofilms are important in aquatic nutrient cycling and microbial proliferation. In these structures, nutrients like carbon are channeled into the production of extracellular polymeric substances or cell division; both are vital for microbial survival and propagation. The aim of this study was to assess carbon channeling into cellular or noncellular fractions in biofilms. Growing in tubular reactors, biofilms of our model strain Pseudomonas sp. strain CT07 produced cells to the planktonic phase from the early stages of biofilm development, reaching pseudo steady state with a consistent yield of approximately 10(7) cells.cm(-2).h(-1) within 72 h. Total direct counts and image analysis showed that most of the converted carbon occurred in the noncellular fraction, with the released and sessile

SUBMITTER: Kroukamp O 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2704800 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature