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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Auburn, Alabama » Aquatic Animal Health Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #280531
Title: Modified a colony forming unit microbial adherence to hydrocarbons assay and evaluated cell surface hydrophobicity and biofilm production of Vibrio scophthalmi

Author
item QIAO, G. - Pukyoung National University
item LI, H. - Delian Fisheries University
item Xu, Dehai
item PARKS, S. - Pukyoung National University

Submitted to: Journal of Bacteriology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/14/2012
Publication Date: 2/20/2012
Citation: Qiao, G., Li, H., Xu, D., Parks, S. 2012. Modified a colony forming unit microbial adherence to hydrocarbons assay and evaluated cell surface hydrophobicity and biofilm production of Vibrio scophthalmi. J Bacteriol Parasitol. 3:130. doi:10.4172/2155-9597.1000130.

Interpretive Summary: Bacterium Vibrio scophthalmi has been found widely in sea water and in many marine fish. There is little information available on V. scophthalmi adhesion to the host, an important step in the initial infection process. The objectives of this study were to (1) develop a modified Microbial Adherence to Hydrocarbons (MATH) assay using Colony Forming Unit (CFU) method and evaluate the cell surface hydrophobicity of V. scophthalmi, (2) detect slime layer and biofilm production of V. scophthalmi and (3) investigate the motility and antibiotic susceptibility associated with biofilm production of V. scophthalmi. The results showed that cell surface hydrophobicity of V. scophthalmi was moderate by Salt Aggregation Test (SAT) and MATH assay. The modified MATH assay will be recommended for the fast motile bacteria due to its accurate results and it is easily conducted. V. scophthalmi produced slime layer and biofilm. The level of biofilm production is related with the pathogenicity of V. scophthalmi and antibiotics susceptibility.

Technical Abstract: Vibrio scophthalmi has been considered as an opportunistic pathogen of the flat fish. There is little information available on V. scophthalmi adhesion to the host, an important step in the initial infection process. The objectives of this study were to (1) develop a modified Microbial Adherence to Hydrocarbons (MATH) assay using Colony Forming Unit (CFU) method and evaluate the cell surface hydrophobicity of V. scophthalmi, (2) detect slime layer and biofilm production of V. scophthalmi and (3) investigate the motility and antibiotic susceptibility associated with biofilm production of V. scophthalmi. The results showed that cell surface hydrophobicity of V. scophthalmi was moderate by Salt Aggregation Test (SAT) and MATH assay. The fraction partitioned to the hydrocarbon phase (%Adh) was determined significantly higher by modified CFU MATH assay than that by classical spectrophotometer MATH assay and microscope MATH assay. V. scophthalmi produced slime layer and biofilm. The optimal biofilm production conditions for V. scophthalmi were: BHIB media or TSB supplemented with 2% NaCl and 0-0.5% glucose and incubation for 24 h. The level of biofilm production is related with the pathogenicity of V. scophthalmi and antibiotics susceptibility. V. scophthalmi was motile with flagellum-mediated swimming and type IV pilus-mediated twitching, but no swarming.