Scale bars measure 100 μm. For each biofilm, three channels are presented; green Cisplatin manufacturer channel showing viable organisms, red channel showing non-viable organisms and the merged channel in that order respectively. Z-stacks of the biofilms

at 1 μm intervals were analyzed by PHLIP software using MATLAB image processing toolbox and biovolume (μm3) compared (D). Mixed species biofilms had significantly more biovolume than single species biofilms (*#p <0.05). Scanning electron microscopy of explanted catheter segments confirms catheter biofilm infection in vivo Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of explanted catheter segments from mice on day 8 of insertion confirms catheter biofilm formation in the subcutaneous catheter model of biofilm infection. When examined using 250× magnification, S. epidermidis (Figure  2A, 2B) and mixed-species biofilms (Figure  2C, 2D) are seen coating the luminal surface of the catheter. Sepantronium mw S. epidermidis biofilms (Figure  2B) when examined at 5000× magnification, reveal grape-like clusters of Staphylococci. Mixed species biofilms have more organisms and see more extracellular material compared to single species S. epidermidis

biofilms (Figure  2D). Candida hypha and S. epidermidis in mixed species biofilms are presented and labeled in Figure  2E and Figure  2F. Figure 2 Electron micrographs confirm catheter biofilms in the mouse model of subcutaneous catheter infection. Subcutaneous catheter segments explanted on day 8 of infection were examined by scanning Bay 11-7085 electron microscopy. Electron micrographs of S. epidermidis biofilm infection (A and B) and mixed-species biofilm infection (C, D and E) confirm biofilm formation on catheters in vivo. Mixed species biofilms where predominance of S. epidermidis (Figure 2 E) and C. albicans (Figure 2 F) are labeled for S. epidermidis (SE) and C. albicans hyphae (CA). Evidence for increased catheter infection and dissemination of S. epidermidis in mixed-species

biofilm infection in a subcutaneous catheter model Figure  3A depicts catheter CFU/ml and Figure  3B blood CFU/ml (systemic dissemination) of S. epidermidis and C. albicans in single species and mixed species biofilm infections. Increased catheter biofilm formation was evidenced by significantly higher mean number of viable S. epidermidis in mixed species infection (2.04 × 109 CFU/ml) compared to single species S. epidermidis biofilm infection (1.22 × 108 CFU/ml) (p < 0.05). This is all the more significant since the pre-insertion catheter CFU/ml in the mixed species infection before subcutaneous insertion in mice were 1.5 to 2 × 104 CFU/ml of S. epidermidis compared to catheters incubated in single species S. epidermidis infection (3.5 to 4.5 × 105 CFU/ml). Since the pre-insertion CFU/ml were lower in the mixed species infection compared to single species S. epidermidis infection, adhesion phase of the biofilm formation is not altered by the presence of C. albicans. However, presence of C.