DETERMINATION OF METHODOLOGY FOR MONITORING BIOFILM FORMATION OF FILAMENTOUS MICROSCOPIC FUNGI

Biofilm is a widespread survival strategy for microorganisms. In this form, they are protected from a wide range of adverse conditions (UV radiation, antimicrobials, drying out). For humans, biofilms may be desirable in industrial processes (biofiltration, bioremediation, wastewater treatment plants) or, conversely, cause significant problems (food contamination, deterioration of materials, reduced heat conduction efficiency). Unlike bacterial and yeast biofilms, filamentous microscopic fungal biofilms are neglected. This work focuses on the determination of a methodology suitable for the quantification of filamentous fungal biofilms. Three methods were selected, which are used for quantification of bacterial biofilms, and subsequently tested on single species biofilms of filamentous fungi Alternaria alternata DBM 4004, Aspergillus niger DBM 4054, Fusarium culmorum DBM 4044 and Fusarium graminearum DBM 4344. Crystal violet staining for the determination of total biofilm biomass and the MTT assay for the determination of metabolic activity of fungal biofilm were found to be appropriate for the quantification of filamentous fungal biofilm.