Liam Collins, ASCR’s R&D researcher, the Functional Atomic Force Microscopy group at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). He’s the co-leader of an innovative study on bacterial biofilms. Published in the journal npj Biofilms and Microbiomes, this research provides a detailed analysis of over 19,000 individual cells, leading to intricate maps that reveal cell properties across expansive biofilm surfaces. The findings have important implications both for healthcare and food safety.
The research shows that bacterial biofilms self-organize into honeycomb-like patterns. Through these connections, bacterial flagella, hair-like structures that allow bacteria to adhere to surfaces and each other, allow them to develop into healthy and flourishing microbial communities. Their use of structured surfaces with engineered, nanoscale ridges, which are thousands of times thinner than a human hair, is one such example. They explored the mechanics of biofilm formation and its complex interactions with materials.
Detailed Analysis of Biofilm Structures
The research team’s capacity to analyze over 142 billion cells is a major breakthrough in biofilm research. Together, they produce high-resolution maps of ever more detailed biofilms to better understand how structure leads to function. Such biofilms are associated with a number of health hazards and industrial burdens.
“This new platform changes that. Now, we can visualize both the intricate structures of single cells and the larger patterns across entire biofilms,” said Liam Collins. This new capability will provide researchers unprecedented insights into the processes and factors that determine how biofilms develop and function.
Here, we take advantage of large-area atomic force microscopy (AFM) to produce high-resolution topographic images of biofilms. This level of detail had long been restricted by conventional imaging techniques. Sita Sirisha Madugula, a key contributor to the project, emphasized the importance of this technology: “The large-area AFM provides researchers with large-scale, high-resolution views of biofilms.”
Furthermore, she highlighted the role of advanced data analysis: “The integration of machine learning allows us to extract meaningful quantitative data from these massive datasets.” This integration of novel technology and analytical methods takes the study of biofilms to a whole new level.
Implications for Healthcare and Food Safety
The results of this study have national implications, especially in the areas of public health and food safety. By learning more about how biofilms develop and their interactions with surfaces, scientists can design materials that prevent biofilms from forming. This expertise plays an essential role in controlling infections within healthcare facilities and protecting the public from contaminated food supplies.
Collins observed that researchers have much to learn about the biological significance of these patterns. Their second role is to strengthen biofilm cohesion and adaptability, the latter being essential in biofilm survival and stability. This factual basis can fuel more targeted approaches to prevent unwanted biofilms both indoors and out.
Scott Retterer, the director of the CNMS, is the project director for the Biofilm Research and Visualization Environment BRaVe project. Perhaps most importantly, he’s quick to point out that collaboration is essential to the success of this research. “This collaboration shows what’s possible when scientists from different disciplines come together,” he stated. Interdisciplinary partnerships like these are critical for addressing our most complicated scientific questions.
The Future of Biofilm Research
Additionally, the research emphasized the need for better technology in studying the ways organisms interact with materials. The project team uses a groundbreaking technique involving nanoscale ridges to advance understanding of biofilm dynamics. This innovative study paves the way for localized and future investigations of how microbes interact.
Ruben Millan-Solsona expressed a common sentiment in the field: “In biofilm research, we’ve often been able to see the trees, but not the forest.” We designed this study to help fill that gap, by making a detailed accounting of the diversity and functions of biofilm ecosystems.
