Biofilm Growth on Simulated Fracture Fixation Plates Using a Customized CDC Biofilm Reactor for a Sheep Model of Biofilm-Related Infection

Abstract

Most animal models of infection utilize planktonic bacteria as initial inocula. However, this may not accurately mimic scenarios where bacteria in the biofilm phenotype contaminate a site at the point of injury. We developed a modified CDC biofilm reactor in which biofilms can be grown on the surface of simulated fracture fixation plates. Multiple reactor runs were performed and demonstrated that monomicrobial biofilms of a clinical strain of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, S. aureus ATCC 6538, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853 consistently developed on fixation plates. We also identified a method by which to successfully grow polymicrobial biofilms of S. aureus ATCC 6538 and P. aeruginosa ATCC 27853 on fixation plates. This customized reactor can be used to grow biofilms on simulated fracture fixation plates that can be inoculated in animal models of biofilm implant-related infection that, for example, mimic open fracture scenarios. The reactor provides a method for growing biofilms that can be used as initial inocula and potentially improve the testing and development of antibiofilm technologies.

Document Details

Document Type
Pub Defense Publication
Publication Date
Mar 31, 2022
Source ID
10.3390/microorganisms10040759

Entities

People

  • Brian Barnum
  • Connor Hunt
  • Dustin L Williams
  • Lisa Nehring
  • Nicholas Ashton
  • Walker Kay

Organizations

  • United States Department of Defense

Tags

Fields of Study

  • Biology

Readers

  • Computational Modeling and Simulation
  • Microbial Pathology
  • Trauma Surgery or Emergency Medicine.

Technology Areas

  • Biotechnology