An alternative SEM drying method using hexamethyldisilazane (HMDS) for microbial cell attachment studies on sub-bituminous coal

Journal of Microbiological Methods
Nur Hazlin Hazrin-Chong, Mike Manefield

Abstract

The use of hexamethyldisilazane (HMDS) as a drying agent was investigated in the specimen preparation for scanning electron microscopy (SEM) imaging of bacterial surface colonization on sub-bituminous coal. The ability of microbes to biofragment, ferment and generate methane from coal has sparked interest in the initial attachment and colonization of coal surfaces. HMDS represents an attractive alternative to critical point drying (CPD) in the imaging of cells on coal, negating the need for expensive equipment. Coal is easily fragmented into sub-micron particles, which can be problematic in critical point drying procedures. In this study, both individual and aggregated cells appeared well shaped with minimal occurrence of flattened cells, signifying the suitability of HMDS in cell attachment studies on sub-bituminous coal. In the absence of glucose, microcolonies of short and long cells showed similar positive results using this method. EPS shrinkage found in microcolonies was inevitable, though this enabled observation of points of attachment between cells and with coal, which would be less effective if the EPS was intact. Overall the use of HMDS drying is preferred over the more commonly used CPD method as it is safer, cheape...Continue Reading

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Citations

Jun 6, 2014·Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology·Nur Hazlin Hazrin-ChongMike Manefield
Jun 5, 2015·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·Solomon Tin Chi ChakDustin R Rubenstein
Jul 16, 2013·Micron : the International Research and Review Journal for Microscopy·Adam BosemanDennis Lajeunesse
May 18, 2016·International Journal of Biological Macromolecules·Min-Eui HanNathaniel S Hwang
Sep 30, 2015·BioMed Research International·Meng-Liu YuHui-Ming Wang
Dec 20, 2016·Journal of Applied Microbiology·N N MehlomakuluB Divol
Jun 4, 2016·PloS One·Nathan J RobinsonTheodora Pinou
Aug 16, 2016·Applied and Environmental Microbiology·Judit K KovácsGyörgy Schneider
Jul 3, 2013·Integrative Biology : Quantitative Biosciences From Nano to Macro·Hyun Jung Kim, Donald E Ingber
Dec 29, 2018·Photochemistry and Photobiology·Marion BarthomeufChristine Pissavin
Jun 23, 2019·Developmental Neurobiology·Itai HennYossi Mandel
Jun 21, 2017·Scientific Reports·Rui ZhangYanna Liang
Aug 16, 2017·Nature Ecology & Evolution·Roberto DanovaroCinzia Corinaldesi
Dec 21, 2019·Environmental Geochemistry and Health·Vasileios AnagnostopoulosHope M Lee
May 21, 2020·International Journal of Nanomedicine·Abhijit H PhakatkarTolou Shokuhfar
Nov 27, 2020·Frontiers in Microbiology·Priyanka SrivastavaSheik Rahman
Mar 24, 2021·The Journal of Biological Chemistry·Giovanna MangiapaneGianluca Tell
Apr 1, 2021·Communications Biology·Cinzia CorinaldesiRoberto Danovaro
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Mar 29, 2020·Langmuir : the ACS Journal of Surfaces and Colloids·Tania Thalyta Silva de OliveiraArijit Bose
Apr 17, 2018·Langmuir : the ACS Journal of Surfaces and Colloids·Akram AbbasiArijit Bose
Sep 7, 2021·Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology·Adrián Ramírez-GranilloAída Verónica Rodríguez-Tovar

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