Introduction
Biofilms are clusters of microorganisms that can only grow with a solid surface and source of nutrients. Biofilm grows on your shower, teeth, and many other surfaces we see daily. We asked ourselves whether or not hydrogen peroxide would have a huge effect on the biofilm or growth or hardly any at all. The hypothesis was hydrogen peroxide would have no effect on the biofilm growth. The null hypothesis was the hydrogen peroxide would kill most growing bacteria.
Materials and Methods
This experiment was conducted using a flat plate with 24 individual wells in which bacterial cultures were exposed to hydrogen peroxide under controlled conditions. Data was collected from two separate trials, with each trial consisting of six wells per group, including a Negative Control, Experimental Group, and a Positive Control. The biofilm formation was quantified through optical density measurements, and statistical analyses were performed to determine significant differences in biofilm development among the different conditions. Proper sterile techniques were maintained throughout the experiment to ensure accuracy and reproducibility.
Results
The data analysis revealed measurable differences in biofilm formation between the experimental group, which was exposed to hydrogen peroxide, and the control groups. The experimental group demonstrated a significant reduction in biofilm formation compared to the postive control, indicating the antimicrobial effects of hydrogen peroxide. However, variations were observed across different trials, highlighting the need for further investigation into the factors influencing bacterial susceptibility. Graphical representations of the data, including bar graphs and statistical comparisons, illustrate the observed trends and provide a clearer understanding of the results.
Discussion
The findings from this experiment suggest that hydrogen peroxide plays a critical role in inhibiting bacterial biofilm formation observed in the experimental group supports the hypothesis that oxidative stress negatively affects bacterial adhesion and matrix production. These results have important implications for the medical and industrial fields, as biofilms contribute to persistent infections and equipment fouling. Future research should focus on optimizing hydrogen peroxide concentrations and evaluating its effectiveness against different bacterial species to determine its potential as a biofilm control strategy.
Abstract
Biofilms are microorganisms that survive it the oddest situations. In this experiment it was tested whether or not biofilm can grow with hydrogen peroxide present in a controlled environment. There were three groups. Experimental group, positive control, and negative control. The experiment was completed twice over a 3 week period. Every seventh day we washed and stained the plates with crystal violet and measured the light absorption of the crystal violet that was bound to the biofilm. There was a significant difference between our positive control and experimental group (0.579- positive, 0.134- experimental.) Therefore the experiment supports our null hypothesis. Hydrogen peroxide does effect biofilm growth.
Acknowledgement
We want to express our gratitude to Northeastern State University and Dr. Elizabeth Burba for their guidance and support throughout this research. Additionally, we acknowledge the contributions of our laboratory team members, whose collaborative efforts were essential to the successful completion of this experiment.
Titles and Authors
The Effects of Hydrogen Peroxide on Biofilm Growth of Pseudomonas Fluorescens
Myra Polanco, Kylie Ingle, Avari Blish
Northeastern State University
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