Simultaneous spatiotemporal mapping of in situ pH and bacterial activity within an intact 3D microcolony structure.

ABSTRACT: Biofilms are comprised of bacterial-clusters (microcolonies) enmeshed in an extracellular matrix. Streptococcus mutans can produce exopolysaccharides (EPS)-matrix and assemble microcolonies with acidic microenvironments that can cause tooth-decay despite the surrounding neutral-pH found in oral cavity. How the matrix influences the pH and bacterial activity locally remains unclear. Here, we simultaneously analyzed in situ pH and gene expression within intact biofilms and measured the impact of damage to the surrounding EPS-matrix. The spatiotemporal changes of these properties were characterized at a single-microcolony level following incubation in neutral-pH buffer. The middle and bottom-regions as well as inner-section within the microcolony 3D structure were resistant to neutralization

SUBMITTER: Hwang G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5015094 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature