Journal Article

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Biofouling

Biofouling

Sep

29

8

917

928

GR: Canadian Institutes of Health Research/Canada; JID: 9200331; 0 (Disinfectants); 0 (Drinking Water); 4R7X1O2820 (Chlorine); 2013/07/24 [aheadofprint]; ppublish

England

1029-2454; 0892-7014

PMID: 23879183

eng

Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't; IM

10.1080/08927014.2013.816298 [doi]

Unknown(0)

23879183

A model biofilm, formed of multiple species from environmental drinking water, including opportunistic pathogens, was created to explore the tolerance of multi-species biofilms to chlorine levels typical of water-distribution systems. All species, when grown planktonically, were killed by concentrations of chlorine within the World Health Organization guidelines (0.2-5.0 mg l(-1)). Higher concentrations (1.6-40-fold) of chlorine were required to eradicate biofilm populations of these strains, ~70% of biofilms tested were not eradicated by 5.0 mg l(-1) chlorine. Pathogenic bacteria within the model multi-species biofilms had an even more substantial increase in chlorine tolerance; on average ~700-1100 mg l(-1) chlorine was required to eliminate pathogens from the biofilm, 50-300-fold higher than for biofilms comprising single species. Confocal laser scanning microscopy of biofilms showed distinct 3D structures and multiple cell morphologies and arrangements. Overall, this study showed a substantial increase in the chlorine tolerance of individual species with co-colonization in a multi-species biofilm that was far beyond that expected as a result of biofilm growth on its own.

Schwering,M., Song,J., Louie,M., Turner,R.J., Ceri,H.

Department of Biological Sciences, Biofilm Research Group, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

20130724

http://vp9py7xf3h.search.serialssolutions.com/?charset=utf-8&pmid=23879183

2013