Biofilms Homework Assignment

Part A: Medically Relevant Biofilms and Strategies to limit infections:

Go to this companies web site and answer the following:

https://www.nextscience.com/the-solution/

1. On the main page watch the “mechanism of action” 3.5min video

Answer the following questions (24pts, 4pts ea answer)

1a. What % of hard to manage bacterial proliferations are due to biofilms?

a. 100% b. 80% c. 60% d. 50%

1b. What 3 things are needed for a biofilm?

____________, ______________, _______________

Answer- moisture, nutrients, bacteria

1c. Bacteria in the EPS can be up to _________times more resistant to anti microbials?

a. 100 x b. 1000x c. 10,000x d. 100,000x

1d. What is the name of the treatment xbio markets to treat surfaces to rid them of biofilms?

____next science__________

1e. Circle the 2 ways that their treatment gets rid of the biofilm.

a. Floods the surface with bleach

b. Uses a solution to break bonds holding the polysaccharides together
c. Ultraviolet radiation to kill bacteria
d. Lyse bacteria by exposure to a high osmolarity imbalance

2. Across the top of this web site there are tabs for “products”. Click on the appropriate tab and
answer the questions for each. (33 pts, 3 pts each answer)

SurgX Sterile wound gel

2a. SSI refers to _____surgical site infection____

2b. Which of the following is FALSE about this wound gel?

a. It induces cell lysis in biofilm

b. Its works against all bacteria but not fungi
c. The gel make a super hydrophilic coating to prevent planktonic cells from attaching
d. Can defend against recolonization for up to 72 hours

2c. Which bacteria was the gel most effective at killing according to their data? __e.coli____
2d. Under the Indications for use (IFU) list 3 things they say this gel can be used for.

post-surgical wounds, stage I-IV pressure ulcers, partial and full-

thickness wounds, diabetic foot and leg ulcers, first and second-
degree burns, and grafted and donor sites

Bactisure Surgical Lavage

2e. This is meant to be used during “pulsed (jet) lavage”. Please explain what this is.

Basically - pulsed lavage, or pulsatile jet lavage, is a form of mechanical

hydrotherapy that uses a pressurized, pulsed solution to irrigate and debride wounds
of necrotic tissue. In most cases, suction is used with pulsed lavage to remove both
wound debris and irrigation solution.

2f. Which of the following is not an ingredient in bactisure?

a. benzalkonium chloride
b. ethanol
c. sodium chloride
d. acetic acid

2g. Which ingredient is the pH adjuster? ___acetic acid____

2f. They claim that “Bactisure™ Removes Nearly Double the Bacteria as Compared to Competitors”.
What were the 2 competing solutions that they tested?

Betadine, irrisept

Part B: Bacterial Energy reading questions (43 pts)

B1.(8pts)What does MFC stand for?

Microbial Fuel Cell

B2.(3pt) What is Marcus’s area of study at the biodesign institute?

He is a Civil and Environmental Engineering grad student, but specifically studies Environmental
Biotechnology at the insitute.
B3. (2pts)Why are bacteria a useful tool in these studies?

A. There are so many varieties that can use most waste

B. They are easy to visualize

C. They are cheap/inexpensive

D. A and B

E. A and C

B4.(6 pts) List the key components of the MFC.

A pair of battery-like terminals (cathode and anode electrode),

external circuit connecting the electrodes,

an electrolyte solution that aids in the conducting of electricity.

B5.(3 pts) What is the correct order of events to generate electricity in the MFC?

A. electrons through, circuit waste to CO2, Electron transfer to anode, electrons arrive at

cathode, form H2O

B. waste to CO2 , Electron transfer to anode, electrons through circuit, electrons arrive at

cathode, form H 2O

C. Electron transfer to anode, electrons arrive at cathode, electrons through circuit, form H2O,

waste to CO2

B6. (3 pts) Which of the following is not found in the biofilm at the anode?

A. proteins

B. sugars

C. detergent

D. nanowires

B7. (3pts) In this MFC the biolfilm is acting as a ___anode______ while it transports electrons.

B8. (2 pts)What law can they use to define the relationship between the biofilm matrix and the anode?

Ohms law

B9. (2pts) What model did the team create to describe the rate of bacterial metabolism in response to
electrical potential? __ the Nernst-Monod Equation ________________
B10. (3pts) Which of the following is not a crucial variable to controlling an MFC?

A. Waste material
B. Electrical potential in the biofilm anode
C. It must be a gram + bacteria
D. The accumulation of biomass at anode

B11. (4 pts) What is the key property of the biofilm that impacts maximal power output from the MFC?

Thickness

B12. (4pts)What is the name of one agency that is funding some of this work?

NASA