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Bacteria-in-paper, a versatile platform to study bacterial ecology.

ABSTRACT: Habitat spatial structure has a profound influence on bacterial life, yet there currently are no low-cost equipment-free laboratory techniques to reproduce the intricate structure of natural bacterial habitats. Here, we demonstrate the use of paper scaffolds to create landscapes spatially structured at the scales relevant to bacterial ecology. In paper scaffolds, planktonic bacteria migrate through liquid-filled pores, while the paper's cellulose fibres serve as anchor points for sessile colonies (biofilms). Using this novel approach, we explore bacterial colonisation dynamics in different landscape topographies and characterise the community composition of Escherichia coli strains undergoing centimetre-scale range expansions in habitats structured at the micrometre scale. The bacteria-in-paper platform enables quantitative assessment of bacterial community dynamics in complex environments using everyday materials.

SUBMITTER: Hol FJH

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6851840 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Bacteria-in-paper, a versatile platform to study bacterial ecology.

Hol Felix J H FJH Whitesides George M GM Dekker Cees C

Ecology letters 20190516 8

Habitat spatial structure has a profound influence on bacterial life, yet there currently are no low-cost equipment-free laboratory techniques to reproduce the intricate structure of natural bacterial habitats. Here, we demonstrate the use of paper scaffolds to create landscapes spatially structured at the scales relevant to bacterial ecology. In paper scaffolds, planktonic bacteria migrate through liquid-filled pores, while the paper's cellulose fibres serve as anchor points for sessile colonie ...[more]

PMID: 31099139

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Project description:BackgroundPaper based artworks are probably ones of the most difficult materials to restore, because of their complexity and fragile structure. Cleaning of paper artifacts, one of the process commonly carried out during restoration, usually involves the use of solvents (organic or not), that may cause several troubles, like swelling and dissolution of some components, and may also be harmful to the users.ResultsInnovative procedure for cleaning paper artworks is reported in this paper. It is based on the use of rheoreversible, biocompatible hydrogels containing poly(ethylene oxide) or poly(ethylene oxide)-poly(propylene oxide)-poly(ethylene oxide) and α-cyclodextrin. We have studied two types of polymer with different hydrophobic properties in order to obtain two different hydrogels with slightly different cleaning capabilities. Our overall strategy has been to develop innovative systems based on these hydrogels so as to better confront the problems that a restorer faces during the cleaning of paper samples. Rheoreversible hydrogels are intriguing materials because their application and removal is not invasive and does not require a liquid treatment that could induce damage to the paper.ConclusionsThese hydrogels have been applied in the cleaning of both new and aged paper samples and their cleaning efficiency has been established. Moreover, by comparison with traditional methods, the greater efficacy of the proposed procedure has been demonstrated.To assess the cleaning efficacy of these hydrogels, a multidisciplinary approach, combining non-invasive spectroscopic infrared techniques together with scanning electron microscopy, chromatographic (HPLC) analysis and pH investigations has been used. Near infrared spectroscopy spectra were coupled with a chemometric analysis to achieve a better interpretation of data.This work constitutes a preliminary step towards focused study in the development of α-cyclodextrin/polymer hydrogel family which will allow cleaning of paper artifacts with peculiar characteristics.

Dataset Information

Bacteria-in-paper, a versatile platform to study bacterial ecology.

Publications

Bacteria-in-paper, a versatile platform to study bacterial ecology.

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