Book chapter
Continuous‐Culture Chemostat Systems and Flowcells as Methods To Investigate Microbial Interactions
Polymicrobial Diseases, pp.21-30
ASM Press
05/02/2002
DOI: 10.1128/9781555817947.ch2
Abstract
Polymicrobial diseases are difficult to reproduce and to study. In vivo and in vitro models are often used to study specific microbial interactions or parameters associated with infection and disease. This chapter focuses on the in vitro techniques that have identified mechanisms of interspecies and intergeneric cooperation among microorganisms. It presents two of the most common in vitro methods used to investigate microbial interactions: continuous‐culture chemostat systems and flowcells. Biofilms form in each of the two models that can be used to identify mechanisms of interspecies and intergeneric cooperation among microorganisms applicable to polymicrobial diseases. Chemostat studies can be used to assess the responses of steady‐state cultures to stresses applied by the experimenter. Flowcells offer additional advantages and the effects of treatment on biofilms can be visually assessed by time‐resolved, nondestructive means or measured in sampled, effluent waste media. Both of these systems have identified synergistic and mutualistic interactions among microorganisms resulting in unique mechanisms of attachment and metabolic interdependence. These methods are rapidly gaining acceptance and are used to study biofilm diseases, particularly the interactions among members of the resident flora, factors involved in the transition of the biofilm from a commensal to a pathogenic relationship with the host, and the mode of action of antimicrobials.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Continuous‐Culture Chemostat Systems and Flowcells as Methods To Investigate Microbial Interactions
- Creators
- David R DrakeKim A Brogden - National Animal Disease Center
- Contributors
- Kim A Brogden (Editor) - National Animal Disease CenterJanet M Guthmiller (Editor)
- Resource Type
- Book chapter
- Publication Details
- Polymicrobial Diseases, pp.21-30
- Publisher
- ASM Press; Washington, DC, USA
- DOI
- 10.1128/9781555817947.ch2
- Number of pages
- 10
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 05/02/2002
- Academic Unit
- Endodontics; Dental Research; Periodontics; Periodontics
- Record Identifier
- 9984367586302771
Metrics
1 Record Views