title: Developing an ecologically relevant heterogeneous biofilm model for dental-unit waterlines.
abstract: This study monitored the biodiversity of microbes cultured from a heterogeneous biofilm which had formed on the lumen of a section of dental waterline tubing over a period of 910 days. By day 2 bacterial counts on the outlet-water showed that contamination of the system had occurred. After 14 days, a biofilm comparable to that of clinical waterlines, consisting of bacteria, fungi and amoebae had formed. This showed that the proprietary silver coating applied to the luminal surface of the commercial waterline tubing failed to prevent biofilm formation. Molecular barcoding of isolated culturable microorganisms showed some degree of the diversity of taxa in the biofilm, including the opportunistic pathogen Legionella pneumophila. Whilst the system used for isolation and identification of contaminating microorganisms may underestimate the diversity of organisms in the biofilm, their similarity to those found in the clinical environment makes this a promising test-bed for future biocide testing.
authors.affiliation: a Oral & Dental Sciences Research Group , College of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences, University of Central Lancashire , Preston , UK.|b Department of Microbiology , Shah Abdul Latif University , Khairpur , Pakistan.
authors.forename: Sham
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lal
authors.affiliation: a Oral & Dental Sciences Research Group , College of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences, University of Central Lancashire , Preston , UK.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pearce
authors.affiliation: c Department of Life & Environmental Science , Bournemouth University , Poole , UK.
authors.forename: Undine E M
authors.initials: UE
authors.lastname: Achilles-Day
authors.affiliation: d Culture Collection of Algae and Protozoa , The Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS) , Oban , UK.
authors.forename: John G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Day
authors.affiliation: a Oral & Dental Sciences Research Group , College of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences, University of Central Lancashire , Preston , UK.
authors.forename: L H Glyn
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Morton
authors.affiliation: a Oral & Dental Sciences Research Group , College of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences, University of Central Lancashire , Preston , UK.
authors.forename: St John
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Crean
authors.affiliation: a Oral & Dental Sciences Research Group , College of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences, University of Central Lancashire , Preston , UK.
authors.forename: Sim K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Singhrao
mesh_terms: D018441:Biofilms / Q000254:growth & development*; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D003748:Dental Equipment / Q000382:microbiology*; D004202:Disinfectants / Q000494:pharmacology; D004866:Equipment Contamination / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005658:Fungi / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification; D007709:Klebsiella / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016952:Legionella pneumophila / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification; D059013:Microbial Consortia; D008954:Models, Biological; D011549:Pseudomonas / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014871:Water Microbiology / Q000592:standards*
chemical_list: D004202:Disinfectants
keywords: Biofilm; Legionella pneumophila; simulated waterline system