Quantitative analysis of structural features of biofilms formed by B. pertussis WT and ΔfhaB strains after 72 h of cultivationa

aBiofilms were grown on the base of flow chambers under continuous flow conditions.CLSM images stacks were acquired from random points by using a plan-neofluar ×100/1.3 oil immersion objective, at 1 µm z-intervals down through the biofilm. Image stacks were analyzed by COMSTAT.bAverage values of parameters obtained from COMSTAT analysis of six CLSM image stacks derived from three independent experiments. Standard errors are given in parentheses.cP values were determined using an unpaired two-tailed Student's t-test.dThe value is biomass volume divided by substratum area.eThe function calculates the mean area size of cell clusters located at the substratum.