High-throughput assay for quantifying bacterial biofilm formation v1

Biofilms are assemblages of single-celled organisms attached to a surface and encased in a sticky extracellular polymeric substance that the cells produce. Difficult to eradicate, they can have profound effects on human health and industrial processes. Studying biofilm formation and testing potential biofilm treatments or mitigation strategies requires a robust protocol for quantifying bacterial biofilms with high-throughput and reproducibility. We have developed such a protocol using readily-available staining materials and a plate reader.