title: Composition and architecture of biofilms on used voice prostheses.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Biofilms on medical devices are a frequent reason for failure of the device. Voice prostheses in laryngectomized patients deteriorate within 3 to 4 months due to adhering biofilms, impeding proper functioning. Recently, we showed that these biofilms are dominated by Candida and lactobacilli. However, the early report of this finding lacked an in depth analysis of the species diversity and community structure.
  
  
  METHODS
  Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) and sequence analysis of amplified rRNA genes was used to identify microorganisms. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) was used to analyze biofilm architecture.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Candida are the predominant fungi in the biofilms, while lactobacilli are the predominant bacteria in all investigated biofilms, followed by streptococci. FISH shows that lactobacilli and streptococci seem to have an important interaction with fungi.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results give a better understanding of biofilm formation and can be used in further development to prevent biofilm formation on voice prostheses.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, University Medical Center Groningen and University of Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, P.O. Box 30001, 9700 RB Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Kevin J D A
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Buijssen
authors.forename: Bernard F A M
authors.initials: BF
authors.lastname: van der Laan
authors.forename: Henny C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: van der Mei
authors.forename: Jelly
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Atema-Smit
authors.forename: Pauline
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: van den Huijssen
authors.forename: Henk J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Busscher
authors.forename: Hermie J M
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Harmsen
mesh_terms: D018441:Biofilms; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004271:DNA, Fungal / Q000302:isolation & purification; D058645:Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis; D005260:Female; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000502:physiology; D006094:Gram-Positive Bacteria / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D007831:Larynx, Artificial; D008297:Male; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D015345:Oligonucleotide Probes; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D016459:Prosthesis-Related Infections / Q000382:microbiology*
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D004271:DNA, Fungal; D015345:Oligonucleotide Probes