Biofilm development by potentially pathogenic non-pigmented rapidly growing mycobacteria

• Main Authors: Fernández-Roblas Ricardo, Ayala Guillermo, Kinnari Teemu J, Martín-de-Hijas Nieves Z, Esteban Jaime, Gadea Ignacio
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: BMC 2008-10-01
• Series: BMC Microbiology
• Online Access: http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2180/8/184

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>A study to evaluate the biofilm-development ability in three different media (Middlebrook 7H9, sterile tap water and PBS-5% glucose) was performed with 19 collection strains from 15 different species on non-pigmented rapidly growing mycobacteria (NPRGM). A microtiter plate assay was developed to evaluate the percentage of covered surface of the microtiter plate wells in different days from day 1 to day 69.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>All strains were able to develop biofilm in all the tested media. Middlebrook 7H9 showed the fastest growth, followed by sterile tap water and PBS-5% glucose. A sigmoid growth curve was detected in all the strains both in Middlebrook 7H9 and in sterile tap water. A difference could be detected for <it>Mycobacterium abscessus </it>in tap water, where it showed faster growth than all the other strains.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Biofilm development seems to be a property of all the species of NPRGM and it depends on the nutrients present in the medium. The microtiter plate assay described here is a useful tool to evaluate differences in biofilm development among the different species of rapidly growing mycobacteria.</p>