A novel training course of the PMEU enrichment and the microscopy of enriched samples in March, 2010.

The microbiological microscopy courses by FINN-FIBER Ltd. have been very popular ones over years. Participants of this annual course learn the basics of light and UV epifluorescence microscopy, isolate microbes from the samples and document the results with digital microphotography into the form of PowerPoint reports.

A novel course, containing PMEU enrichments in the beginning of this 3-day course, is under planning on these days. Four teachers - every one is a specialist on her/his area of microbiology - will combine their efforts to cover a wide range of bacteria and moulds as the subjects of the enrichments, isolations and microscopic examinations.

The course will be held in Jyväskylä, Central Finland, in March 2010. More information follows soon.

Applications of PMEU method for biofilm research and testing of biocides against biofilm growth

Paper machine biofilms have been studied already several years by microbiologist J.Mentu. Test coupons, made of steel brands used in paper machines, have been installed inside PMEU syringaes and the growth has been observed with UV Epifluorescence Microscopy after a short incubation period (see picture above).

This technique has now been modified for ordinary light microscopes, too. Steel coupons have been replaced by specified glass slides and the Gram-stained biofilms can be observed with Bright Field Microscopy - no expensive epifluorescence microscopes are needed in this application.

This method will detect all biofilm-producing microbes and testing of biofilm-preventing biocides is also possible simultaneously. Primary attachers typically appear on the slides in just hours and mature biofilms are available in 12...24 hours. This application is very suitable for all areas of industry where the hygiene of surfaces is important. It can also be applied in every environmental research projects where the formation of biofilms in natural water environments is the subject of the study. Hygiene control of public swimming pools etc. also benefit of this method.

PMEU applications for paper industry microbiology.

Paper industry microbiology is one of the several sectors of microbiology which can have significant benefits when applying PMEU methods for rapid hygiene control and HACCP procedures.

A paper mill consists of several technical parts which all act as growth environments (niches) for microbes. Paper machine itself is like a continuous flow fermentor, securing constant nutrient supply, growth environment and feedback for microbes. All regions of the system have their own microbial populations which cause risks for the processes, machinery, employees and product hygiene. Portable Microbiological Enrichment Unit (PMEU) by SAMPLION Oy (Siilinjärvi, Finland) has been modified to an analytical tool for paper industry microbiology, intended in estimation of microbial activities in process waters and simultaneous evaluation of alternative paper machine biocides. ATP Assay was combined with PMEU incubations to give quantitative values of living biomass during tests. PMEU can be used for the detection of harmful bacteria in raw materials and processes as well as on the control of biofilm-forming microbes when epifluorescence microscopy for the observations of biofilm growth on test plates is available. PMEU method helps to avoid bias, caused by the selecting and recovering effects of traditional colony count methods. Because of the robustness of  PMEU incubator, it does not necessarily need any specified microbiological laboratory but acts also as a stand alone cultivation system in common paper mill laboratories research institutes as their additional microbiological tool.