Researchers use automated whole slide imaging to link biofilm properties of bacterial infection to specific pathogenic mechanisms in wound healing.

Bacteria can form biofilms, multicellular communities which are held together by a self-produced extracellular matrix. A growing body of evidence establishes biofilm infection as a major cause of delayed wound healing and non-healing chronic wounds. However, it is unclear how biofilms interfere with wound healing.

Dr. Chandan K. Sen, Associate Vice President of Military & Applied Research, at the Indiana University School of Medicine, USA, has published work linking biofilm properties of bacterial infection to specific pathogenic mechanisms in wound healing. One of the techniques used in their research is automated whole slide imaging.

While Dr. Sen's team is actively pursuing discoveries in many areas, his primary interests are tissue injury, repair, regeneration and infection. Previously, his lab has developed a preclinical, porcine biofilm infection wound model. Now, they utilize this wound model with bacterial strains with biofilm-forming abilities to better understand biofilm-dependent mechanisms of action in healing wounds.

Their findings show a biofilm-induced degradation of cutaneous collagen, specifically collagen 1. Collagen 1 is a major structural protein of the extracellular matrix (ECM), and, in wounds, causes poor tensile strength in the repaired skin. This supports the notion that healed wounds with a history of biofilm infection are likely to recur. Automated whole slide imaging with ZEISS Axioscan was instrumental to their findings.