Center for Biofilm Engineering News Update:  November, 2001 Volume 4, Issue 11 __________________________________________   Research Highlights   Paper Spotlight by Gary Jackson   We have developed a way to grow biofilms, in a relatively short period of time, that are reproducible with respect to structure and viable cell counts. The biofilms consisted of three species of microorganisms: Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Pseudomonas fluorescens and Klebsiella pneumoniae. In order to show that the biofilms were the same in consecutive experiments we grew 18 separate biofilms and evaluated them for each of the two criteria. To make sure that we were testing the reproducibility of the biofilms, we stringently adhered to the growth protocols that were set prior to beginning the experiments. Using standard biofilm viable cell count procedures and customized image analysis procedures we were able to demonstrate that the grown biofilms were reproducible with respect to viable cell counts and a number of structural parameters: areal porosity, fractal dimension, diffusion distance and textural entropy. The studied parameters were reproducible within a 10% error. Also, as a result of the experiments we have introduced a new parameter to quantify the number of viable cells in a biofilm. The new parameter, termed the "specific number of viable cells" (CFU/surface area/mg of biomass), not only accounts for the surface area covered by the biofilm, but also for the total biomass accumulation on the same surface area. This new parameter is a better descriptor of the biofilm and increased the reproducibility both within an experiment and between experiments. We also believe that the new parameter is more descriptive of the biofilm being studied and a more effective means of reporting results. As the biofilm community advances the development of standard biofilm methods, we can expect to see a growing emphasis on issues of reproducibility. The approaches presented in this work support this effort.   Jackson, G., H. Beyenal, W.M. Rees, and Z. Lewandowski, "Growing Reproducible Biofilms with Respect to Structure and Viable Cell Counts," J Microbiol Meth, 47(1):1-10 (2001).   _______   New Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies   Dr. Anne Camper has accepted the position of Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies within the College of Engineering, Montana State University. Dr. Camper's vision, enthusiasm, and support from a wide range of constituents will be an excellent fit for this important new position. She will serve in a split appointment and will retain all of her research and teaching duties at the CBE. Dr. Camper begins her new duties this month. Congratulations Anne! _______   Grants Awarded   "Tool Box for Rural Water Systems," sponsored by the MSU Water Center and EPA for $120,000/1 year, Principal Investigators are Drs. Anne Camper and Phil Butterfield.   "Tomography and Biogeochemical Reconnaissance," sponsored by the Inland Northwest Research Alliance for $16,000 for 2 years in partnership with Boise State University. Principal Investigator is Dr. Al Cunningham and Co- Principal Investigator is Dr. Robin Gerlach.   _______   New Staff Member   Nichole Scheidt, has accepted a position as Lab Specialist and has joined the Structure-Function group led by Dr. Zbigniew Lewandowski. Nichole will be working on a S.C. Johnson sponsored project, "Treatment of Biofilms with Multi-Oxident Systems".   _______   Undergraduate Scholarship Program Awards Six CBE students were awarded undergraduate scholarships for the 2001-2002 academic year to work on the following biofilm-related research projects.   Biofilm in a Capillary Tube Reactor Student: Amber Harrer (Chemical Engineering) PI: Phil Stewart   Control of Biofilms by Natural Products Student: Tim Esser (Biomedical Science) PI: Mark Pasmore   Leukocyte Interactions with Microbial Biofilms Student: Jeremy Mitchell (Chemical Engineering) PI: Jeff Leid   Proteomic Evaluation of Staphylococcus aureus Biofilms Student: Andrew Lucas (Chemical Engineering) PI: Mark Shirtliff   Spatial Patterns of Growth in P. aeruginosa Biofilms Student: Erin Werner (Chemical Engineering) PI: Phil Stewart   Structural Elucidation by X-ray Diffraction of lasR and rhlR Regulatory Proteins in P. aeruginosa Student: Chayne Piscitelli (Chemistry and Biochemistry) PI: Paul Stoodley   __________________________________________   Upcoming CBE Workshops and Meetings   See the Events Calendar at http://www.erc.montana.edu/CBEssentials-SW/whats_new/index.htm     _________________________________________   CBE People in Action   Dr. Bill Costerton was an invited speaker at Goucher College in Baltimore, Maryland. He presented students with "Biofilms in Nature and Disease," November 2, 2001.   Dr. Bill Costerton is an invited speaker at the Gambro Symposium: Fluids for Hemodialysis, Quality and Composition. He will present "Role of Biofilm Contamination of Dialysis Fluids and Its Treatment," Rome, Italy, November 5-7, 2001.   Dr. Anne Camper will present "Fundamentals of Bacterial Regrowth in Drinking Water Distribution Systems" and "Laboratory Studies of the Importance of Materials in Regrowth" to 15 drinking water utilities in Boston, MA, November 8, 2001.   Dr. Bill Costerton is an invited speaker to the Vascular Access Society 4th Basic Multidisciplinary Hemodialysis Access Course in Rome, Italy. He will present "Infection, Biofilm and Antibiotic," November 8-9, 2001.   Dr. Phil Butterfield will present "Effect of Various Corrosion Control Techniques and Humic Substances on the Development of Biofilm on Iron Oxide Surfaces" at the American Water Works Association Water Quality Technology Conference, Nashville, TN, November 14, 2001.   Dr. Anne Camper will present "Effects of UV Disinfection on Humic Substances and Biofilms" at the American Water Works Association Water Quality Technology Conference, Nashville, TN, November 14, 2001. __________________________________________   Theses   See theses abstracts at http://www.erc.montana.edu/Res-Lib99-SW/pubs/Theses/default.htm     __________________________________________   Web Watch   See the BiofilmsOnline.com November issue at http://www.BiofilmsOnline.com   Check our Recent Web Updates page created to make it easy for you to locate new information on the CBE web. See http://www.erc.montana.edu/Recent%20Web%20Updates/default.htm     __________________________________________   Newsletter Listserve   The CBE News Update is a listserve newsletter. If you need to subscribe or unsubscribe from the listserve, follow the directions at the following CBE website.   http://www.erc.montana.edu/Res-Lib99-SW/newsarchives/subscribe.htm   An alternative to subscribing to the listserve is to view the CBE News Update on our web page at http://www.erc.montana.edu/Ind-Col99-SW/Current_Newsletter/default.htm. Newsletter archives can be found at http://www.erc.montana.edu/Res-Lib99-SW/newsarchives/index.htm.   __________________________________________   Diane Williams  editor of the CBE News Update