A microtiter-plate screening method for biofilm disinfection and removal

J Microbiol Methods. 2003 Aug;54(2):269-76. doi: 10.1016/s0167-7012(03)00034-4.

Abstract

A quantitative spectrophotometric method was developed to measure the removal and killing efficacy of antibiofilm agents. Biofilms of Pseudomonas aeruginosa or Staphylococcus epidermidis were grown in 96-well plates, treated with an agent, then stained with either the biomass indicator crystal violet or the respiratory indicator 5-cyano-2,3-ditolyl tetrazolium chloride. This rapid screening method is sensitive enough to elucidate concentration-response relationships as well as differences between species responses to treatments. Using these assays, agents can be ranked by their ability to remove or kill biofilm.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Biofilms / drug effects*
  • Biofilms / growth & development
  • Colony Count, Microbial
  • Disinfectants / administration & dosage
  • Disinfection*
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests / methods*
  • Pseudomonas aeruginosa / drug effects*
  • Pseudomonas aeruginosa / growth & development
  • Sodium Hypochlorite / pharmacology
  • Spectrophotometry
  • Staining and Labeling / methods
  • Staphylococcus epidermidis / drug effects*
  • Staphylococcus epidermidis / growth & development
  • Tetrazolium Salts / chemistry
  • Urea / pharmacology

Substances

  • Disinfectants
  • Tetrazolium Salts
  • 5-cyano-2,3-ditolyltetrazolium
  • Urea
  • Sodium Hypochlorite