title: A flow cell simulating a subsurface rock fracture for investigations of groundwater-derived biofilms.
abstract: Laboratory scale continuous-flow-through chambers (flow cells) facilitate the observation of microbes in a controlled, fully hydrated environment, although these systems often do not simulate the environmental conditions under which microorganisms are found. We developed a flow cell that mimics a subsurface groundwater-saturated rock fracture and is amenable to confocal laser scanning microscopy while allowing for the simple removal of the attached biomass. This flow cell was used to investigate the effect of toluene, a representative contaminant for non-aqueous phase liquids, on groundwater-derived biofilms. Reduced average biofilm biomass and thickness, and diminished diversity of amplifiable 16S rRNA sequences were observed for biofilms that developed in the presence of toluene, compared to the biofilms grown in the absence of toluene. The flow cell also allowed the detection of fluorescent protein-labelled cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Biology, Ryerson University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Starek
authors.forename: Konstantin I
authors.initials: KI
authors.lastname: Kolev
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Berthiaume
authors.forename: C William
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Yeung
authors.forename: Brent E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Sleep
authors.forename: Gideon M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Wolfaardt
authors.forename: Martina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hausner
mesh_terms: D018441:Biofilms / Q000187:drug effects; D003227:Conjugation, Genetic; D058645:Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis; D005434:Flow Cytometry / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000032:analysis; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D060587:Groundwater / Q000382:microbiology*; D059013:Microbial Consortia / Q000187:drug effects; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal / Q000379:methods; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D016958:Pseudomonas putida / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D014050:Toluene / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014871:Water Microbiology; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D014050:Toluene