ABSTRACT
Imaging and characterizing biofilm components In the first chapter we defined a biofilm system as a collection of four compartments: (1) the surface, (2) the biofilm, (3) the solution of nutrients, and (4) the gas phase. Much of biofilm research is about characterizing these compartments, relations among the compartments, and relations among their components. It often helps to image the components of interest before characterizing them, and this chapter discusses imaging techniques we find useful for that purpose. The term imaging is not limited here to optical imaging using various types of microscopy; instead, it is used broadly to refer to all activities aimed at enhancing the visibility of various components of biofilm systems. Surface topography may be imaged using optical microscopy, surface chemistry may be imaged using surface analytical techniques, and hydrodynamics in biofilms may be imaged using nuclear magnetic resonance imaging. Because specific imaging techniques can be used to study various compartments and components of biofilm systems, including optical microscopy used to image biofilms and surfaces, we will first describe the relevant imaging techniques and then give selected examples of their applications.
