Phenotype characterization of genetically defined microorganisms and growth of bacteriophage in biofilms.

Phenotypic characterization will be a pivotal aspect of future research in understanding the biofilm mode of growth. We hope that the concepts and techniques presented in this chapter will benefit other investigators in this field. Although initial studies will necessarily involve monocultures, eventually mixed culture work will have to be performed to understand biofilm growth in the natural environment. As the study of biofilm-phage interactions is new, there is considerable fundamental work that needs to be addressed. Here, we anticipate that some phage are better adapted to growth in biofilms, some are adept in growing in mixed culture biofilms, and others are better adapted to infecting planktonic organisms. Whereas biofilms are now widely accepted as a fundamental aspect of microbial growth in nature, the field of phage ecology is quite new and an exciting challenge for the future.