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Applied and Environmental Microbiology, August 1999, p. 3710-3713, Vol. 65, No. 8
0099-2240/99/$04.00+0
Copyright © 1999, American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.

High Rates of Conjugation in Bacterial Biofilms as Determined by Quantitative In Situ Analysis

Martina Hausner and Stefan Wuertz*

Institute of Water Quality Control and Waste Management, Technical University of Munich, D-85748 Garching, Germany

Received 4 January 1999/Accepted 26 April 1999

Quantitative in situ determination of conjugative gene transfer in defined bacterial biofilms using automated confocal laser scanning microscopy followed by three-dimensional analysis of cellular biovolumes revealed conjugation rates 1,000-fold higher than those determined by classical plating techniques. Conjugation events were not affected by nutrient concentration alone but were influenced by time and biofilm structure.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Institute of Water Quality Control and Waste Management, Technical University of Munich, Am Coulombwall, D-85748 Garching, Germany. Phone: 49 (89) 2891 3708. Fax: 49 (89) 2891 3718. E-mail: stefan.wuertz{at}bv.tum.de.

Applied and Environmental Microbiology, August 1999, p. 3710-3713, Vol. 65, No. 8
0099-2240/99/$04.00+0
Copyright © 1999, American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.


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