In Vitro Biofilm Formation of Flavobacterium psychrophilum

Abstract

The fish pathogen Flavobacterium psychrophilum has been shown to occur in two colony phenotypes, rough and smooth. ​The aim of this study was to examine the effect of environmental and nutritional factors on the biofilm formation of both phenotypes under in vitro static conditions. ​The present study revealed that smooth cells displayed higher abilities of biofilm formation compared to rough cells in nutrient-rich media (TYES broth and fish feed) under static conditions, while biofilms formed by cells of both phenotypes were mainly Ca²⁺ dependent than Mg²⁺. ​Neither of the colony phenotypes was able to form biofilms in the low-nutrient medium (lake water) within 5 days.