Response of a Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm community to DNA-damaging chemical agents

Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain RM4440 carries a plasmid-borne fusion of the P. aeruginosa recA gene promoter to a promoterless lux operon from Vibrio f isheri. We tested the response of RM4440 in a biofilm to exposure to a 1-h pulse of each of 17 chemicals known to be toxic to bacteria and other organ isms. The induction of light produced from the recA-lux fusion present in R M4440 proved to be sensitive and specific for DNA-damaging chemicals when i ncluded in a biofilm environment. This study demonstrates the potential use fulness of this construct for in situ investigation of bacterial communitie s. (C) 2000 Federation of European Microbiological Societies. Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.