Posted Mon, Jul, 08,2013
Published today in Microbiology Insights is a new original research article by Michael Taylor, Kirstin Ross and Richard Bentham. Read more about this paper below:
Title
Spatial Arrangement of Legionella Colonies in Intact Biofilms from a Model Cooling Water System
Abstract
There is disagreement among microbiologists about whether Legionella requires a protozoan host in order to replicate. This research sought to determine where in biofilm Legionellae are found and whether all biofilm associated Legionella would be located within protozoan hosts. While it is accepted that Legionella colonizes biofilm, its life cycle and nutritional fastidiousness suggest that Legionella employs multiple survival strategies to persist within microbial systems. Fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) demonstrated an undulating biofilm surface architecture and a roughly homogenous distribution of heterotrophic bacteria with clusters of protozoa. Legionella displayed 3 distinct spatial arrangements either contained within or directly associated with protozoa, or dispersed in loosely associated clusters or in tightly packed aggregations of cells forming dense colonial clusters. The formation of discreet clusters of tightly packed Legionella suggests that colony formation is influenced by specific environmental conditions allowing for limited extracellular replication. This work represents the first time that an environmentally representative, multispecies biofilm containing Legionella has been fluorescently tagged and Legionella colony morphology noted within a complex microbial system.
Click here to learn more about the article, download it and comment
Posted in: Articles Published
News Categories
Thu 08 Oct, 2015
Published This Week (5th - 9th October)Thu 08 Oct, 2015
Biomarker Insights Paper Endorsed by Editor in ChiefWed 07 Oct, 2015
Interview with Professor Jamie DaviesWe are delighted about the speedy and professional process.
Facebook Google+ Twitter
Pinterest Tumblr YouTube