title: Quantitative observations of heterogeneities in Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms.
abstract: Heterogeneity in a Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm was quantified by measuring distributions of thickness in biofilm samples and a distribution of particle sizes in effluent samples. The mean steady-state thickness was approximately 33 microns, but individual measurements ranged from 13.3 to 60.0 microns. Particles exceeding 100 microns3 were observed in the reactor effluent. The results reveal a rough biofilm surface and indicate that most biomass detaches in the form of multicellular particles.
authors.affiliation: Center for Interfacial Microbial Process Engineering, College of Engineering, Montana State University, Bozeman 59717.
authors.forename: P S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Stewart
authors.forename: B M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Peyton
authors.forename: W J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Drury
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Murga
mesh_terms: D001422:Bacterial Adhesion; D001431:Bacteriological Techniques; D004463:Ecology; D004783:Environmental Microbiology; D010316:Particle Size; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000502:physiology