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Applied and Environmental Microbiology, April 2003, p. 2313-2320, Vol. 69, No. 4
0099-2240/03/$08.00+0     DOI: 10.1128/AEM.69.4.2313-2320.2003
Copyright © 2003, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Heavy Metal Resistance of Biofilm and Planktonic Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Gail M. Teitzel and Matthew R. Parsek*

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208

Received 27 September 2002/ Accepted 21 January 2003

A study was undertaken to examine the effects of the heavy metals copper, lead, and zinc on biofilm and planktonic Pseudomonas aeruginosa. A rotating-disk biofilm reactor was used to generate biofilm and free-swimming cultures to test their relative levels of resistance to heavy metals. It was determined that biofilms were anywhere from 2 to 600 times more resistant to heavy metal stress than free-swimming cells. When planktonic cells at different stages of growth were examined, it was found that logarithmically growing cells were more resistant to copper and lead stress than stationary-phase cells. However, biofilms were observed to be more resistant to heavy metals than either stationary-phase or logarithmically growing planktonic cells. Microscopy was used to evaluate the effect of copper stress on a mature P. aeruginosa biofilm. The exterior of the biofilm was preferentially killed after exposure to elevated concentrations of copper, and the majority of living cells were near the substratum. A potential explanation for this is that the extracellular polymeric substances that encase a biofilm may be responsible for protecting cells from heavy metal stress by binding the heavy metals and retarding their diffusion within the biofilm.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Northwestern University, 2145 Sheridan Rd., Evanston, IL 60208. Phone: (847) 467-7445. Fax: (847) 491-4011. E-mail: m-parsek{at}northwestern.edu.

Applied and Environmental Microbiology, April 2003, p. 2313-2320, Vol. 69, No. 4
0099-2240/03/$08.00+0     DOI: 10.1128/AEM.69.4.2313-2320.2003
Copyright © 2003, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.



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