Establishment of a continuous model system to study Helicobacter pylori survival in potable water biofilms

Abstract

Close association of the pathogen Helicobacter pylori in drinking water biofilms has been suggested. Using a twostage water model, the survival and development of the pathogen in potable water biofilms was monitored. Filter-sterilized tap water was used as the growth medium and the inoculum consisted of a naturally occurring consortium of microorganisms. Biofilms were generated on removable stainless steel coupons that were placed in the second vessel. Novel technology peptide nucleic acid (PNA) molecular probes were used to detect and locate the pathogen within the biofilms which were also stained with the vital fluorophore, CTC, as a measure of viability. The PNA-labelled oligonucleotide probes were highly specific, and complementary to the helix 6 region of H. pylori 16S rRNA. The pathogen was tracked in the biofilms using epifluorescence microscopy (EF) and episcopic differential interference contrast microscopy (EDIC).