Biofouling detection methods that are widely applicable and useful across disciplines: a mini-review
Date
2021
Authors
Curtin, Anna M.
Buckley, Heather L.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Biofouling
Abstract
Biofouling, or the build-up of microorganisms in a biofilm at the solid-water or water-air interface, is an
interdisciplinary problem. Biofouling causes various issues including clogging systems, contaminating devices, and
creating infections that are extremely difficult to treat, to name but a few. Therefore, engineers, pharmacologists,
microbiologists, wastewater treatment operators, chemists, food preservative formulators, home and personal care
product formulators, and toxicologists all play a role in studying and have an interest in solving biofouling. Highthroughput
studies on biofilm prevention and removal can take the form of biofilm antimicrobial microdilution
susceptibility (BAMS) tests. Due to vested interests of many disciplines, the results from these tests should be
applicable and useful to each discipline. This critical review analyses the focuses, biological implications, and metrics
required by each discipline. The possible detection methods that could satisfy each desired metric are then
summarized. The detection methods were analysed in order to recommend two methods of biofilm detection, Crystal
Violet stain and the LIVE/DEAD BacLight stain, which correspond with three metrics including total biomass, log
reduction, and the MIC, BP C, MBIC, MBC, BBC, and/or MBEC values. Determining these three metrics for each
BAMS test will allow this type of research to be widely applicable and useful across many disciplines.
Description
Keywords
biofouling, interdisciplinary, antimicrobial susceptibility tests, biofilm detection
Citation
Curtin, A. M., & Buckley, H. L. (2021). Biofouling detection methods that are widely applicable and useful across disciplines: a mini-review. Biofouling, 1-13. https://doi.org/10.1080/08927014.2021.1926998.