Scientific journal

47 2008

Journal of Food and Nutrition Research
Summary No. 2 / 2008

KOREŇOVÁ, J. – LOPAŠOVSKÁ, J. – KUCHTA, T.
Comparison of three microtitre plate-based methods for quantification of biofilm formation ability of bacteria contaminating food technologies
Journal of Food and Nutrition Research, 47, 2008, No. 2, s. 100-104

Janka Koreňová, Biocentrum, VÚP Food Research Institute, Kostolná 7, SK - 90001 Modra, Slovakia. E-mail: korenova@vup.sk

Summary: Crystal violet assay, ATP-luminescence assay using an “all-in-one” reagent and fluorescein diacetate assay, all in a microtitre-plate format, were compared at quantification of biofilm formation ability of selected bacteria contaminating food technologies. After optimization, all three assays produced reproducible results and facilitated rapid identification of strains with strong (Staphylococcus saprophyticus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa), moderate (Staph. aureus) and weak biofilm formation ability (Escherichia coli). However, the ATP-luminescence assay produced considerably high values for the E. coli strain with a weak biofilm formation ability which could not be reduced by extensive washing. For practical use, we recommend the crystal violet assay for cases when the biofilm needs to be quantified irrespectible from bacterial cell viability, and the fluorescein diacetate assay for cases when only the viable bacterial cells in the biofilm need to be quantified.

Keywords: food technology; biofilm; luminometry; fluorimetry; Pseudomonas; Staphylococcus

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