Методы исследования биопленок

Biofilm formation is a key virulence factor among many microorganisms, it is also important for the formationof persistent forms which result in chronicity of pathological processes within macro organisms. The development ofnew technologies in molecular biology, biochemical studies and imaging techniques leads to a better understanding ofbiofilm formation. The question of using these technologies in vitro and/or in vivo is relevant in modern conditions. Thelack of standardized methods of biofilm culturing is troublesome for researchers. The results of studies performed inone laboratory might not be reproduced and confirmed by other independent researchers. Culturing techniques designed for microscopy investigation may be useless for other types of analyses, such as harvesting biofilm biomass for biochemical measurements. In most cases these culturing methods can be adapted to study certain aspects of the system in which the researcher is interested.All methods of experimental reproduction of biofilms can be divided into two major groups – methods using“closed” and those using “open” systems. The main advantage of the second group of methods consists in receipt andrenewal of nutrients, removal of metabolites and, as a result, the creation of external conditions maximally similar to thenatural habitats of microorganisms.A variety of microbiological, physical, chemical and molecular methods are used to visualize and study thequantitative and qualitative composition of biofilms.