Figure 3

Visualization of biofilm structures in snottites by laser microscopy in combination with lectin staining. (a) Globular glycoconjugate signals (green) surrounding individual bacterial cells (red) (67 sections). (b) Strands of glycoconjugate signals (red) with bacterial cells (green) and interspersed voids (58 sections). (c) Biofilm section where only part of the bacterial cells (green) are shown to be associated with glycoconjugate signals (red) (62 sections). (d) Multilayer glycoconjugates (triple-stained AAL) indicating three orders of organization in snottites: glycoconjugate capsules surrounding individual bacterial cells, embedded clusters of capsules, and higher-order spheres of glycoconjugate clusters (59 sections). The selected 3D image series are shown as 2D maximum intensity projections. Samples were stained with AAL lectin (a–d), as well as nucleic acid-specific stains (a–c).