title: Biofilm formation by the yeast Rhodotorula mucilaginosa: process, repeatability and cell attachment in a continuous biofilm reactor.
abstract: Yeast biofilms contribute to quality impairment of industrial processes and also play an important role in clinical infections. Little is known about biofilm formation and their treatment. The aim of this study was to establish a multi-layer yeast biofilm model using a modified 3.7 l bench-top bioreactor operated in continuous mode (D = 0.12 h(-1)). The repeatability of biofilm formation was tested by comparing five bioprocesses with Rhodotorula mucilaginosa, a strain isolated from washing machines. The amount of biofilm formed after 6 days post inoculation was 83 μg cm(-2) protein, 197 μg cm(-2) polysaccharide and 6.9 × 10(6) CFU cm(-2) on smooth polypropylene surfaces. Roughening the surface doubled the amount of biofilm but also increased its spatial variability. Plasma modification of polypropylene significantly reduced the hydrophobicity but did not enhance cell attachment. The biofilm formed on polypropylene coupons could be used for sanitation studies.
authors: Empa, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, Laboratory for Biomaterials, Lerchenfeldstrasse 5, CH-9014, St. Gallen, Switzerland.
authors: Jasmin
authors: J
authors: Gattlen
authors: Manfred
authors: M
authors: Zinn
authors: Sébastien
authors: S
authors: Guimond
authors: Enrico
authors: E
authors: Körner
authors: Caroline
authors: C
authors: Amberg
authors: Laurie
authors: L
authors: Mauclaire
mesh_terms: D018441:Biofilms; D019149:Bioreactors / Q000382:microbiology*; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D057927:Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012248:Rhodotorula / Q000502:physiology*; D013499:Surface Properties