Paper Number
BM4 

Session
Biological Macromolecules: Proteins, Cellulosic Biomass and other Biomaterials

Title
Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm rheology

Presentation Date and Time
October 12, 2015 (Monday) 11:15

Track / Room
Track 4 / Constellation F

Authors (Click on name to view author profile)

1. Daalkhaijav, Uranbileg (Oregon State University, Chemical, Biological, Environmental Engineering)
2. Walker, Travis W. (Oregon State University, Chemical, Biological, and Environmental Engineering)

Author and Affiliation Lines (in printed abstract book)
Uranbileg Daalkhaijav and Travis W. Walker
Chemical, Biological, Environmental Engineering, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331

Speaker / Presenter 
Daalkhaijav, Uranbileg

Text of Abstract
Bacterial biofilms are one of the most intractable problems facing industries ranging from petroleum to the healthcare industry. This matrix of EPS provides a diffusion barrier against antimicrobial agents and provides a protective microenvironment where bacterial cultures can thrive. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an environmental bacteria that is known for its ability to produce alginate incased biofilm. It can cause major problems in the medical field as an opportunistic pathogen causing recurrent infections in cystic fibrosis patients and acute infections in burn victims. We find that P. aeruginosa (PAO1) biofilm is viscoelastic, showing predominantly gel-like behavior, which is likely responsible for P. aeruginosa biofilm robustness in the face of outside stresses. The inclusion of variety of salts and sugars into the medium affected the biofilm development and the rheological characteristics of the resulting biofilm. Our future objective is to find treatments to disrupt already developed biofilm so the weakened mechanical structure will result in increased effectiveness of traditional infection treatments like antibiotics.