title: Lab-scale preparations of Candida albicans and dual Candida albicans-Candida glabrata biofilms on the surface of medical-grade polyvinyl chloride (PVC) perfusion tube using a modified gravity-supported free-flow biofilm incubator (GS-FFBI).
abstract: The assembly of a man-made gravity-supported free-flow biofilm incubator (GS-FFBI) was described, which was composed of a gas cushion injector and four incubators. The GS-FFBI had the characteristics of (i) a bottom-up flow direction, and (ii) lab-scale biofilm preparation without the use of a multichannel pump. Two opportunistic fungal strains, namely Candida albicans and Candida glabrata, were employed to incubate C. albicans and dual C. albicans-C. glabrata biofilms on the surface of medical-grade polyvinyl chloride perfusion tube. In terms of the results from {2, 3-bis (2-methoxy-4-nitro-5-sulfo-phenyl)-2H-tetrazolium-5-carboxanilide} (XTT) assay, dry weight measurement, colony-forming unit counting, susceptibility test, and scanning electron microscopy, it was demonstrated that GS-FFBI could form both stable single and dual Candida biofilms with no significant variations among the four incubators or the three daily incubations within 21h, and could operate for at least 96h smoothly with no contamination of stock medium. The results also indicated, for the first time, that C. albicans and C. glabrata might be co-existent competitively and symbiotically in the dual biofilms with flowing media. GS-FFBI would be a useful device to study in vitro morphological and physiological features of microbial biofilms in the medical settings.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Chinese and Western Integrative Medicine, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei 230038, China.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shao
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Chinese and Western Integrative Medicine, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei 230038, China.
authors.forename: KeQiao
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Chinese and Western Integrative Medicine, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei 230038, China.
authors.forename: Ge
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Chinese and Western Integrative Medicine, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei 230038, China.
authors.forename: YanYan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Chinese and Western Integrative Medicine, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei 230038, China.
authors.forename: YuanYuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Chinese and Western Integrative Medicine, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei 230038, China.
authors.forename: TianMing
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Integrated Traditional Chinese Medicine and Western Medicine, School of Acupuncture and Moxibustion & Fractures, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei 230038, China.
authors.forename: XinLong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Chinese and Western Integrative Medicine, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei 230038, China. Electronic address: wangchangzhong53@126.com.
authors.forename: ChangZhong
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D018441:Biofilms / Q000254:growth & development*; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D041221:Candida glabrata / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D004864:Equipment and Supplies / Q000382:microbiology*; D006112:Gravitation; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D011143:Polyvinyl Chloride; D013194:Staining and Labeling; D013559:Symbiosis; D013778:Tetrazolium Salts / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D013778:Tetrazolium Salts; C059087:2,3-bis(2-methoxy-4-nitro-5-sulfophenyl)-5-((phenylamino)carbonyl)-2H-tetrazolium hydroxide; D011143:Polyvinyl Chloride
keywords: Candida albicans; Candida glabrata; Flow model; Gravity; Mixed biofilm; Polyvinyl chloride