In situ measurements of viral particles diffusion inside mucoid biofilms.
Fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) under two-photon excitation was used successfully to characterize the diffusion properties of model virus particles (bacteriophages) in bacterial biofilm of Stenotrophonas maltophilia. The results are compared to those obtained with fluorescent latex beads used as a reference. The FCS data clearly demonstrated the possibility for viral particles to penetrate inside the exopolymeric matrix of mucoid biofilms, and hence to benefit from its protective effect toward antimicrobials (antibiotics and biocides). Microbial biofilms should hence be considered as potential reservoirs of pathogenic viruses, and are probably responsible for numerous persistent viral infections.
Lacroix-Gueu
Pascaline
P
Laboratoire de photophysique moléculaire, UPR 3361, fédération LUMAT, université Paris-Sud, 91405 Orsay, France.
Briandet
Romain
R
Lévêque-Fort
Sandrine
S
Bellon-Fontaine
Marie-Noëlle
MN
Fontaine-Aupart
Marie-Pierre
MP
D001435:Bacteriophages / Q000502:physiology*; D018441:Biofilms; D004058:Diffusion; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D007700:Kinetics; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D020588:Stenotrophomonas / Q000821:virology*; D018406:Virus Physiological Phenomena