Gamaleya Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology, Moscow, Russia
Ability of biofilm formation was studied in 28 strains belonging to 12 species of Legionella. Optimal conditions for formation of biofilms were ascertained using reference strain Legionella pneumophila Philadelphia 1. Com-parative assessment of the ability of Legionella spp. to form biofilms was performed by cultivation in proteosopep-ton broth (for 96 hours) and in water (for up to 2 weeks). Highest rates of biofilm formation were observed for strains of L.pneumophila and L.longbeachae. Between L.pneumophila strains the most prominent ability to form biofilms was observed in newly isolated strains BLR-05 and TOTAL 1. Opportunity to use different ability of Le-gionella species to biofilm formation as a epidemiologically significant marker and for modeling of biofilms of Le-gionella in association with other microorganisms was discussed.
Zh. Mikrobiol. (Moscow), 2008, No. 1, P. 3—7