Haloferax volcanii cells develop into structured colony
biofilms and static liquid biofilms
Planktonic H. volcanii DS2 cells grown in shaking culture
(Figure 1A) readily formed biofilms in typical rich media
types Hv-YPC and Hv-Ca within several experimental
systems that provided a solid plastic or glass substratum.
Colony biofilms [7] developed on the surface of
polycarbonate filters placed on solid media (Figure 1B)
and were cryo-processed and cross-sectioned, exposing
a surface structure containing crevices bounded by
globular structures (Figure 1B). The greatest level of
structural complexity was observed when biofilms were
grown in static liquid (SL-biofilms; Figure 1C). Cultivating
SL-biofilms within chamber slides and on the
surface of borosilicate glass coupons placed in six-well
plates permitted direct staining and optimized imaging
of delicate biofilm structure that was visible macroscopically
(Figure 1C).