Methodologies for Studying B. subtilis Biofilms as a Model for Characterizing Small Molecule Biofilm Inhibitors

Summary

This study presents the development of reproducible methodologies to study biofilm inhibitors and their effects on Bacillus subtilis multicellularity.

Abstract

This work assesses different methodologies to study the impact of small molecule biofilm inhibitors, such as D-amino acids, on the development and resilience of Bacillus subtilis biofilms. First, methods are presented that select for small molecule inhibitors with biofilm-specific targets in order to separate the effect of the small molecule inhibitors on planktonic growth from their effect on biofilm formation. Next, we focus on how inoculation conditions affect the sensitivity of multicellular, floating B. subtilis cultures to small molecule inhibitors. The results suggest that discrepancies in the reported effects of such inhibitors such as D-amino acids are due to inconsistent pre-culture conditions. Furthermore, a recently developed protocol is described for evaluating the contribution of small molecule treatments towards biofilm resistance to antibacterial substances. Lastly, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) techniques are presented to analyze the three-dimensional spatial arrangement of cells and their surrounding extracellular matrix in a B. subtilis biofilm. SEM facilitates insight into the three-dimensional biofilm architecture and the matrix texture. A combination of the methods described here can greatly assist the study of biofilm development in the presence and absence of biofilm inhibitors, and shed light on the mechanism of action of these inhibitors.

Introduction

Multi-cellular bacterial communities play significant roles in natural and anthropogenic environments, and can be beneficial or highly deleterious. These multi-cellular colonies are known as biofilms, wherein the individual cells are embedded in a self-produced extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) matrix. The EPS strongly adhere the cells to the surface they colonize. They serve as a shield against mechanical and chemical forces and create close contact between neighboring cells, facilitating cellular communication¹. A biofilm can be viewed as a differentiated community, where cells use highly regulated, orchestrated processes to coordinate their activi....

Protocol

1. Assessing the Effect of Small Molecule Inhibitors on Pellicle and Biofilm Colony Formation

1. Prepare a 2x solution of defined biofilm-inducing MSgg medium²⁵ without the calcium chloride and iron(III) chloride hexahydrate. After filter sterilization, add the calcium chloride. The medium is ready to use directly or it can be stored at 4 °C in the dark.
2. Prepare the 1x MSgg dilution on the day of the experiment.
   1. Dilute the 2x MSgg medium to 1x with sterile distilled water (pellicles) or sterile 3% hot (80 °C) agar (biofilms) and add iron(III) chloride hexahydrate to a final concentration of 50 μM (pellicles) or 250 µM (biofilm....

Results

The pellicle assay is one method to study the highly regulated and dynamic processes of B. subtilis multicellularity. Besides this, the pellicle assay is suited to test a range of either pre-starter conditions or small molecule concentrations in a single cell-culture multidish plate in one experiment. However, B. subtilis pellicle formation is sensitive to the pre-culture conditions (e.g., growth medium of the pre-culture and its growth phase), the inoculation ratio and the removal of the pre-c.......

Discussion

Bacillus subtilis forms robust and highly structured biofilms both in liquid (pellicles) and on solid medium (colonies). Hence, it serves as an ideal model organism to characterize the mode of action of specific biofilm inhibitors. On solid media, cells form multicellular structures with distinctive features that are not evident in pellicles, like wrinkles radiating from the center to the edge. Thus, pellicles and colonies are complementary systems to study B. subtilis multicellularity.

Materials

List of materials used in this article

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
Luria Broth, Lennox	Difco	240230
Bacto Agar	Difco	214010
potassium phosphate monobasic	Sigma, 136.09 g/mol	P0662-500G
potassium phosphate dibasic	Fisher Scientific, 174.18 g/mol	BP363-1
3-(N-morpholino)propanesulfonic acid	Fisher Scientific, 209.27 g/mol	BP308-500
magnesium chloride hexahydrate	Merck, 203.30 g/mol	1.05833.0250
calcium chloride anhydrous	J.T. Baker, 110.98 g/mol	1311-01
manganese(II) chloride tetrahydrate	Sigma, 197.91 g/mol	31422-250G-R
iron(III) chloride hexahydrate	Sigma, 270.30 g/mo)	F2877-500G
zinc chloride anhydrous	Acros Organics, 136.29 g/mol	424592500
thiamine hydrochloride	Sigma, 337.27 g/mol	T1270-100G
L-tryptophan	Fisher Scientific, 204.1 g/mol	BP395-100
L-phenylalanine	Sigma, 165.19 g/mol	P5482-100G
L-threonine	Sigma, 119.12 g/mol	T8625-100G
glycerol anhydrous	Bio-Lab Itd	712022300
L-glutamic acid monosodium salts hydrate	Sigma, 169.11 g/mol	G1626-1KG
D-leucine	Sigma, 169.11 g/mol	855448-10G
ethanol anhydrous	Gadot	830000054
razor blade	Eddison	NA
circular cellulose filter papers	Whatman, 90 mm	1001-090
glutaraldehyde	EMS (Electron Micoscopy Science), 25% in water	16220
paraformaldehyde	EMS, 16% in water	15710
sodium cacodylate	Merck, 214.05 g/mol	8.2067
calcium chloride 2-hydrate	Merck, 147.02 g/mol	1172113
stub-aluminium mount	EMS, sloted head	75230
carbon adhesive tape	EMS	77825-12
Shaker 37 °C	New Brunswick Scientific Innowa42	NA
Centrifuge	Eppendorf table top centrifuge 5424	NA
Digital Sonifier, Model 250, used with Double Step Microtip	Branson	NA
Incubator 30 °C	Binder	NA
Incubator 23 °C	Binder	NA
Filter System, 500 ml, polystyrene	Cornig Incorporated	NA
Rotary Shaker - Orbitron Rotatory II	Boekel	NA
S150 Sputter Coater	Edwards	NA
CPD 030 Critical Point Dryer	BAL-TEC	NA
Environmental Scanning Electron Microscope	XL30 ESEM FEG Philips (FEI)	NA