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Monitoring of microbial adhesion and biofilm growth using electrochemical impedancemetry

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Abstract

Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy was tested to monitor the cell attachment and the biofilm proliferation in order to identify characteristic events induced on the metal surface by Gram-negative (Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1) and Gram-positive (Bacillus subtilis) bacteria strains. Electrochemical impedance spectra of AISI 304 electrodes during cell attachment and initial biofilm growth for both strains were obtained. It can be observed that the resistance increases gradually with the culture time and decreases with the biofilm detachment. So, the applicability of electric cell-substrate impedance sensing (ECIS) for studying the attachment and spreading of cells on a metal surface has been demonstrated. The biofilm formation was also characterized by the use of scanning electron microscopy and confocal laser scanning microscopy and COMSTAT image analysis. The electrochemical results roughly agree with the microscope image observations. The ECIS technique used in this study was used for continuous real-time monitoring of the initial bacterial adhesion and the biofilm growth. It provides a simple and non-expensive electrochemical method for in vitro assessment of the presence of biofilms on metal surfaces.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratoire d’Electrochimie, Ecole Nationale Supérieure de Chimie de Rennes, avenue du Général Leclerc, 35700, Rennes, France

    A. Darchen & V. Alonso

  2. Laboratoire de Biotechnologie et Chimie Marine, Université de Bretagne Sud, Centre de Recherche, rue Saint Maudé, 56132, Lorient, France

    A. Dheilly, I. Linossier, D. Hadjiev & C. Corbel

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  1. A. Dheilly
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  2. I. Linossier
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  3. A. Darchen
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  4. D. Hadjiev
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  5. C. Corbel
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  6. V. Alonso
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Correspondence to I. Linossier.

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Dheilly, A., Linossier, I., Darchen, A. et al. Monitoring of microbial adhesion and biofilm growth using electrochemical impedancemetry. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 79, 157–164 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-008-1404-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-008-1404-7

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