title: Discrimination between random and non-random processes in early bacterial colonization on biomaterial surfaces: application of point pattern analysis.
abstract: The dynamics of adhesion and growth of bacterial cells on biomaterial surfaces play an important role in the formation of biofilms. The surface properties of biomaterials have a major impact on cell adhesion processes, eg the random/non-cooperative adhesion of bacteria. In the present study, the spatial arrangement of Escherichia coli on different biomaterials is investigated in a time series during the first hours after exposure. The micrographs are analyzed via an image processing routine and the resulting point patterns are evaluated using second order statistics. Two main adhesion mechanisms can be identified: random adhesion and non-random processes. Comparison with an appropriate null-model quantifies the transition between the two processes with statistical significance. The fastest transition to non-random processes was found to occur after adhesion on PTFE for 2-3 h. Additionally, determination of cell and cluster parameters via image processing gives insight into surface influenced differences in bacterial micro-colony formation.
authors.affiliation: a Otto Schott Institute of Materials Research (OSIM) , Friedrich Schiller University Jena , Jena , Germany.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Siegismund
authors.forename: Anja
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schroeter
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lüdecke
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Undisz
authors.forename: Klaus D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Jandt
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Roth
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rettenmayr
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schuster
authors.forename: Sebastian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Germerodt
mesh_terms: D001422:Bacterial Adhesion; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D018441:Biofilms / Q000254:growth & development*; D057219:Biofouling; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000502:physiology*; D013499:Surface Properties; D014025:Titanium / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; C009495:titanium dioxide; D014025:Titanium
keywords: bacterial adhesion; bacterial colonization; biofilm; biomaterials; image processing; point-pattern analysis