A Keystone Methylobacterium Strain in Biofilm Formation in Drinking Water

The structure of biofilms in drinking water systems is influenced by the interplay between biological and physical processes. Bacterial aggregates in bulk fluid are important in seeding biofilm formation on surfaces. In simple pure and co-cultures, certain bacteria, including Methylobacterium, are i...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Water (Basel) 2017-10, Vol.9 (10), p.778
Main Authors: Tsagkari, Erifyli, Keating, Ciara, Couto, Jillian, Sloan, William
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aggregates
Bacteria
Biofilms
Biological activity
Communities
Drinking water
Fluid dynamics
Fluid flow
Fluorescence
Laminar flow
Microbial activity
Microorganisms
Relative abundance
Turbulent flow
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Summary:The structure of biofilms in drinking water systems is influenced by the interplay between biological and physical processes. Bacterial aggregates in bulk fluid are important in seeding biofilm formation on surfaces. In simple pure and co-cultures, certain bacteria, including Methylobacterium, are implicated in the formation of aggregates. However, it is unclear whether they help to form aggregates in complex mixed bacterial communities. Furthermore, different flow regimes could affect the formation and destination of aggregates. In this study, real drinking water mixed microbial communities were inoculated with the Methylobacterium strain DSM 18358. The propensity of Methylobacterium to promote aggregation was monitored under both stagnant and flow conditions. Under stagnant conditions, Methylobacterium enhanced bacterial aggregation even when it was inoculated in drinking water at 1% relative abundance. Laminar and turbulent flows were developed in a rotating annular reactor. Methylobacterium was found to promote a higher degree of aggregation in turbulent than laminar flow. Finally, fluorescence in situ hybridisation images revealed that Methylobacterium aggregates had distinct spatial structures under the different flow conditions. Overall, Methylobacterium was found to be a key strain in the formation of aggregates in bulk water and subsequently in the formation of biofilms on surfaces.
ISSN:2073-4441
2073-4441
DOI:10.3390/w9100778