RT-PCR and PNA-FISH as novel methods for the detection of specific microorganisms in heterotrophic biofilm communities

Biofilms occur in a large number of environments and medical devices relevant for public health. In natural environments they are usually multispecies microbial communities. Two recent advances of fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR), peptide nucleic acid FlSH and real time PCR have been used successfully in the detection and quantification of specific microorganisms. Advantages and pitfalls for each of the techniques when applied to biofilms will be highlighted in this review