title: Three-dimensional visualization of mixed species biofilm formation together with its substratum.
abstract: Biofilms, such as dental plaque, are aggregates of microorganisms attached to a surface. Thus, visualization of biofilms together with their attached substrata is important in order to understand details of the interaction between them. However, so far there is limited availability of such techniques. Here, non-invasive visualization of biofilm formation with its attached substratum by applying the previously reported technique of continuous-optimizing confocal reflection microscopy (COCRM) is reported. The process of development of oral biofilm together with its substratum was sequentially visualized with COCRM. This study describes a convenient method for visualizing biofilm and its attached surface.
authors: Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8572, Japan.
authors: Tomohiro
authors: T
authors: Inaba
authors: Takahiro
authors: T
authors: Ichihara
authors: Yutaka
authors: Y
authors: Yawata
authors: Masanori
authors: M
authors: Toyofuku
authors: Hiroo
authors: H
authors: Uchiyama
authors: Nobuhiko
authors: N
authors: Nomura
mesh_terms: D001422:Bacterial Adhesion; D018441:Biofilms; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal / Q000379:methods*; D009055:Mouth / Q000382:microbiology*; D013295:Streptococcus mutans / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: Microscopy; oral biofilm; three dimensional visualization