EDM Studio Inc.

"When most people are asked to envision what bacteria look like, a picture of free-swimming, single-celled organisms usually comes to mind. However, this view of microbes as solitary entities (termed 'planktonic' cells) is only part of their life cycle. In nature, the majority of microorganisms form surface-adherent communities known as biofilms. Bacteria can attach to almost any surface, whether it is living or non-living. Architecturally, mature biofilms are highly structured, irregularly organized, and intermingled with a network of water-filled channels".

Joe Harrison, Biofilm Research Group, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary.

The Biofilm Research Group at the University of Calgary is using a recently developed imaging technique called Confocal Laser-Scanning Microscopy. This technology has enabled the researchers to map the structure of various biofilms.

The Confocal Laser illuminates individual layers of the biofilm sample, and outputs an image of each slice. EDM Studio partner Andrew Edmundson automated the task of tracing each slice, 156 in all, and digitizing the output images as vectors. Importing the vectors to 3D Studio VIZ the slices were assembled into a single model to be rendered and animated.

The Biofilm Research Group used the resulting movie and renderings to present their research at BioMicroWorld2005, the first International Conference on Applied, Environmental, and Industrial Microbiology - Badajoz, Spain - March, 2005. Since the conference the Biofilm Research Group has used the visualization for various other presentations and papers.

View Visualization - 5.2MB QuickTime

View American Scientist Cover Nov/Dec, 2005.