Quantifying the Effects of Antimicrobials on In vitro Biofilm Architecture using COMSTAT Software
Summary
Antimicrobial-induced changes to Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm architecture differ among clinical isolates cultured from patients with cystic fibrosis and chronic pulmonary infection. Following confocal microscopy, COMSTAT software can be utilized to quantify variations in biofilm architecture (e.g., surface area, thickness, biomass) for individual isolates to assess the efficacy of anti-infective agents.
Abstract
Biofilms are aggregates of microorganisms that rely on a self-produced matrix of extracellular polymeric substance for protection and structural integrity. The nosocomial pathogen, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, is known to adopt a biofilm mode of growth, causing chronic pulmonary infection in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). The computer program, COMSTAT, is a useful tool for quantifying antimicrobial-induced changes in P. aeruginosa biofilm architecture by extracting data from three-dimensional confocal images. However, standardized operation of the software is less commonly addressed, which is important for optimal reporting of biofilm behavior and cross-center comparison. Thus, the aim of this protocol is to provide a simple and reproducible framework for quantifying in vitro biofilm structures under varying antimicrobial conditions via COMSTAT. The technique is modeled using a CF P. aeruginosa isolate, grown in the form of biofilm replicates, and exposed to tobramycin and the anti-Psl monoclonal antibody, Psl0096. The step-by-step approach aims to reduce user ambiguity and minimize the chance of overlooking crucial image-processing steps. Specifically, the protocol emphasizes the elimination of subjective variations associated with the manual operation of COMSTAT, including image segmentation and the selection of appropriate quantitative analysis functions. Although this method requires users to spend additional time processing confocal images prior to running COMSTAT, it helps minimize misrepresented biofilm heterogenicity in automated outputs.
Introduction
Biofilms are aggregates of microorganisms oriented in a matrix of self-produced extracellular polymeric substances (EPS). The EPS matrix is very complex, consisting primarily of bacterial cells, water, proteins, polysaccharides, lipids, and nucleic acids1, all of which make biofilms distinctly different from free-living planktonic cells. Biofilm EPS are adherent to each other and various surfaces. The EPS matrix has properties that mediate cell-to-cell exchange of metabolites, genetic material, and compounds used for intercellular signaling and defense2. These properties collectively provide biofilms structural integrity and protection against external stressors, contributing to immune evasion and antimicrobial resistance3.
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a well-recognized nosocomial pathogen, known to adopt an evasive biofilm growth strategy in response to antimicrobials. A prime example of this occurs in patients with the recessive genetic disorder, cystic fibrosis (CF). Biofilms play a pivotal role in the development of antimicrobial-resistant P. aeruginosa4 and permit the establishment of chronic pulmonary infection in patients with CF, causing accelerated decline in lung function and premature mortality5. Hence, in vitro biofilm studies are performed to test the efficacy of antibiotics and new anti-infective agents against P. aeruginosa isolates obtained from patients with CF6,7. Following biofilm formation, antimicrobials are applied externally to the structure, and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) is used to generate high-resolution, three-dimensional reconstructions of biofilm segments. It is common practice to then use the computer software, COMSTAT, as a plugin to ImageJ, to quantify changes in biofilm architecture8,9,10,11.
Although COMSTAT is useful for quantifying biofilm structure, the reproducibility and standardization of image analysis is less commonly addressed. For example, the image-processing procedure, performed prior to running COMSTAT, is objective, but contains an element of subjectivity when setting image thresholds12,13. In a similar manner, the COMSTAT program allows the operator to choose from basic to advanced conditions and parameters for image segmentation as well as ten quantitative analysis functions (e.g., thickness distribution, surface area, biomass, dimensionless roughness coefficient). The multitude of user options, compounded with varying operator expertise levels, may result in misguided reporting of biofilm behavior.
Thus, the goal of this protocol is to present a relatively simple method for the quantitative comparison of in vitro biofilm structures using COMSTAT. Herein, three-dimensional images of biofilm segments from a CF P. aeruginosa isolate are captured via CLSM using the chambered coverglass model14—an established technique used to perform reproducible in vitro biofilm experiments. Utilizing COMSTAT as a plugin to ImageJ, this method allows for researchers to quantitatively identify changes in biofilm architecture in the presence of antimicrobials under varying conditions. Overall, this method aims to eliminate subjective variations associated with the manual operation of COMSTAT, thereby facilitating the standardization of protocols across centers.
Protocol
Representative Results
Discussion
There is no prescribed method for quantitatively comparing three-dimensional images of in vitro biofilm structures, and procedures described in this context are often difficult to standardize due to inter-operator variability20. Thus, this protocol offers a simple and reproducible framework for COMSTAT applications seeking to quantify changes in in vitro biofilm architecture under varying antimicrobial conditions. The strengths of this technique are modeled using a CF P. aeru…
Offenlegungen
The authors have nothing to disclose.
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to acknowledge Cystic Fibrosis Foundation for providing funding for this research.
Materials
| Anti-Psl mAb, Psl0096 | Medimmune | ||
| Blood Agar (TSA with 5 % Sheep Blood) Medium | Fisher Scientific | R01200 | |
| Eight-well Chambered Coverglass w/ non-removable wells | Thermo Fisher Scientific | 155411 | |
| Invitrogen SYTO 9 Green Fluorescent Nucleic Acid Stain | Thermo Fisher Scientific | S34854 | |
| LB BROTH (LENNOX), Liquid Autoclave Sterilized | BioShop Canada | LBL666 | |
| Tobramycin, 900 µg/mg | Alfa Aesar by Thermo Fisher Scientific | J66040 | It is recommended to perform a minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) test for every batch made to ensure quality control of antimicrobial potency |
| Quorum Volocity 6.3 | Quorum Technologies | Image analysis software |
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