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Vol 1, No 3 (2016)
Original article
Published online: 2017-03-28
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Biofilm formation of Streptococcus pneumoniae from bronchial alveolar lavage and from nasal swab

Joanna Wróblewska, Agata Białucha, Emilia Adrianna Kubik, Eugenia Gospodarek-Komkowska
·
Medical Research Journal 2016;1(3):100-104.

open access

Vol 1, No 3 (2016)
ORIGINAL ARTICLES
Published online: 2017-03-28

Abstract

Introduction. Infection induced by Streptococcus pneumoniae concerns mainly children, the elderly, and people suffering from chronic diseases. The number of deaths caused by pneumococcus infections is rising worryingly. The ability to create biofilm is the main virulence factor for S. pneumoniae. The aim of this study was to evaluate the ability to form biofilm (using two different dyes) of the bacterial strains isolated from nasal and BAL, and evaluate the relationship between antibiotic sensitivity and production of biofilm.

Materials and methods. For the study of S. pneumoniae biofilm formation in 96-well microtitre plates, crystal violet (CV) and tetrazolium dyes — 2,3,5-triphenyl-tetrazolium chloride (TTC) were used.

Results. All isolates were able to form some degree of biofilm. The results obtained by the two methods were not significantly correlated when comparing the biofilm mass. The strains produced biofilm mass intensive when the dye was CV — 29 (96.6%) strains of S. pneumoniae strong biofilm production. When the dye was TTC, it was observed that 14 (46.6%) strains of S. pneumoniae formed strong biofilm.

Conclusions. There was no significant relationship between the ability of S. pneumoniae to form biofilms and the source of isolates.

Abstract

Introduction. Infection induced by Streptococcus pneumoniae concerns mainly children, the elderly, and people suffering from chronic diseases. The number of deaths caused by pneumococcus infections is rising worryingly. The ability to create biofilm is the main virulence factor for S. pneumoniae. The aim of this study was to evaluate the ability to form biofilm (using two different dyes) of the bacterial strains isolated from nasal and BAL, and evaluate the relationship between antibiotic sensitivity and production of biofilm.

Materials and methods. For the study of S. pneumoniae biofilm formation in 96-well microtitre plates, crystal violet (CV) and tetrazolium dyes — 2,3,5-triphenyl-tetrazolium chloride (TTC) were used.

Results. All isolates were able to form some degree of biofilm. The results obtained by the two methods were not significantly correlated when comparing the biofilm mass. The strains produced biofilm mass intensive when the dye was CV — 29 (96.6%) strains of S. pneumoniae strong biofilm production. When the dye was TTC, it was observed that 14 (46.6%) strains of S. pneumoniae formed strong biofilm.

Conclusions. There was no significant relationship between the ability of S. pneumoniae to form biofilms and the source of isolates.

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Keywords

biofilm, crystal violet, microtitre plate, TTC, Streptococcus pneumoniae

About this article
Title

Biofilm formation of Streptococcus pneumoniae from bronchial alveolar lavage and from nasal swab

Journal

Medical Research Journal

Issue

Vol 1, No 3 (2016)

Article type

Original article

Pages

100-104

Published online

2017-03-28

Page views

788

Article views/downloads

1186

DOI

10.5603/MRJ.2016.0017

Bibliographic record

Medical Research Journal 2016;1(3):100-104.

Keywords

biofilm
crystal violet
microtitre plate
TTC
Streptococcus pneumoniae

Authors

Joanna Wróblewska
Agata Białucha
Emilia Adrianna Kubik
Eugenia Gospodarek-Komkowska

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