Planktonic Cells
Planktonic Cells - Related Videos
11:47
Concentration of Metabolites from Low-density Planktonic Communities for Environmental Metabolomics using Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
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Cited by 15 •
2012
A method for metabolite extraction from microbial planktonic communities is presented. Whole community sampling is achieved by filtration onto specially prepared filters. After lyophilization, aqueous-soluble metabolites are extracted. This approach allows for application of environmental metabolomics to trans-omics investigations of natural or experimental microbial communities.
06:36
Establishing the Minimal Bactericidal Concentration of an Antimicrobial Agent for Planktonic Cells (MBC-P) and Biofilm Cells (MBC-B)
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Cited by 63 •
2014
This protocol allows for a direct comparison between planktonic and biofilm resistance for a bacterial strain that can form a biofilm in vitro using a 96-well microtiter plate. Planktonic or biofilm bacteria are exposed to serial dilutions of the antimicrobial agent of choice. Viability is assayed by growth on agar plates.
09:01
An Ultra-clean Multilayer Apparatus for Collecting Size Fractionated Marine Plankton and Suspended Particles
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Cited by 6 •
2018
Plankton and suspended particles play a major role in the biogeochemical cycles in the ocean. Here, we provide an ultra-clean, low stress method for the collection of various sizes of particles and plankton at sea with the capability of handling large volumes of seawater.
12:46
Bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) Labeling and Subsequent Fluorescence Activated Cell Sorting for Culture-independent Identification of Dissolved Organic Carbon-degrading Bacterioplankton
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Cited by 6 •
2011
Environmental bacterioplankton are incubated with a model dissolved organic carbon (DOC) compound and a DNA labeling reagent, bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU). Afterward, DOC-degrading cells are separated from the bulk community based on their elevated BrdU incorporation using fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS). These cells are then identified by subsequent molecular analyses.
02:33
A Rapid Image-Based Assay for Screening Surface-Induced Bacterial Virulence
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2026
Source: Perinbam, K., and Siryaporn, A. A Rapid Image-based Bacterial Virulence Assay Using Amoeba. J. Vis. Exp. (2018)This video demonstrates a rapid, image-based method to assess bacterial virulence by incubating amoebae with surface-attached or planktonic bacteria, applying a calcein-acetoxymethyl ester (calcein-AM) agarose pad, and imaging fluorescence to detect host cell damage.
FAQs
Direct exposure gives planktonic cells immediate access to nutrients, antimicrobial agents, and host immune factors. This makes the state useful for separating effects caused by the surrounding liquid from changes associated with surface attachment or biofilm growth. In infection studies, those conditions help researchers relate microbial growth and survival to dissemination and immune encounter.
Changes in the surrounding environment can influence both growth and gene expression in planktonic cells. These responses may also affect whether cells remain freely suspended or transition into a surface-associated community. Monitoring such changes helps investigators connect external conditions with altered microbial behavior and understand how infections may shift between disseminating and persistent states.
The two states expose microorganisms to different biological conditions. Freely suspended cells encounter antimicrobial agents and host immune factors directly, whereas biofilm-associated growth represents a surface-linked community state. Comparing them can reveal why an infection persists, identify state-dependent differences in microbial behavior, and guide development of antimicrobial or host-directed therapies.
Researchers establish growth in liquid and then assess outcomes such as microbial growth, antimicrobial susceptibility, virulence, or interaction with immune cells. The same system can be compared with surface-associated or biofilm conditions to identify changes linked to growth state. This workflow provides a tractable way to examine infection-related behavior under controlled experimental conditions.
Planktonic cultures support measurements of microbial growth, virulence, and antibiotic susceptibility, while also allowing examination of interactions with immune cells. These readouts help characterize how microorganisms behave before or during transitions toward surface-associated communities. The resulting comparisons can clarify microbial dissemination and identify properties relevant to infection control.
They are especially useful when researchers need a manageable model for studying freely suspended microorganisms, their exposure to host immune factors, or their response to antimicrobial agents. In this context, planktonic cultures complement biofilm studies by providing a reference state for investigating dissemination, persistence, infection transitions, and potential antimicrobial or host-directed treatment strategies.