Statistical evaluation of a newly modified Robbins device using a bioluminescent pseudomonad to quantify adhesion to plastic
Title:
Statistical evaluation of a newly modified Robbins device using a bioluminescent pseudomonad to quantify adhesion to plastic
Author:
Kerr, C. J. Jones, C. R. Hillier, V. F. Robson, G. D. Osborn, K. S. Handley, P. S.
Appeared in:
Biofouling
Paging:
Volume 14 (2000) nr. 4 pages 267-277
Year:
2000-04
Contents:
A modified Robbins device (MRD) has frequently been used as a model system to study adhesion and biofilm formation. This study investigates the reproducibility of attachment and whether a statistically significant gradient of adhesion exists along the 25 sampling ports of a MRD. A simple, quantitative, non-destructive, bioluminescence assay was developed in order to measure attachment of bioluminescent P. veronii BL146bio cells to plastic discs of Thermanox™ in newly modified Robbins devices (nMRD). No statistically significant difference in mean bioluminescence values occurred between pairs of nMRDs run in parallel, but there was a significant difference in bioluminescence values between different batches of bacteria (p < 0.05). Generalised Linear Modelling showed that the position of the sample disc influenced the numbers attaching. In 50% of devices a significant positive gradient of attachment occurred and bioluminescence values varied from disc 1 to disc 25 by 29.6-58.0%. In the other 50% of nMRDs there was a smaller, non-significant gradient. A disc sampling regime was devised to take this gradient into account and used to prove a positive correlation between bioluminescence and numbers of viable P. veronii BL146bio cells during a 6h biofilm accumulation period.