Attachment and antibiotic response of early-stage biofilms studied using resonant hyperspectral imaging

Yue Wang*, Christopher P. Reardon, Nicholas Read, Stephen Thorpe, Adrian Evans, Neil Todd, Marjan Van Der Woude, Thomas F. Krauss

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Many bacterial species readily develop biofilms that act as a protective matrix against external challenge, e.g., from antimicrobial treatment. Therefore, biofilms are often responsible for persistent and recurring infections. Established methods for studying biofilms are either destructive or focus on the biofilm’s surface. A non-destructive method that is sensitive to the underside of the biofilm is highly desirable, as it allows studying the penetration of antibiotics through the film. Here, we demonstrate that the high surface sensitivity of resonant hyperspectral imaging provides this capability. The method allows us to monitor the early stages of Escherichia coli biofilm formation, cell attachment and microcolony formation, in-situ and in real-time. We study the response of the biofilm to a number of different antibiotics and verify our observations using confocal microscopy. Based on this ability to closely monitor the surface-bound cells, resonant hyperspectral imaging gives new insights into the antimicrobial resistance of biofilms.

Original languageEnglish
Article number57
Number of pages7
Journalnpj Biofilms and Microbiomes
Volume6
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 27 Nov 2020

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© The Author(s) 2020

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