Abstract

The invention is directed to an interacting microhabitat array for microorganisms having more than one microhabitat in a substrate in which at least two microhabitats are connected in series by at least one corridor. The corridor is of sufficient size to allow the microorganism to move between microhabitats in a restricted manner. The invention is also directed to uses of the device for screening for method of modulating biofilms and identifying drug candidates. The present invention concerns an interacting microhabitat array in which at least two microhabitats are connected by a corridor, and methods of using the device. The interacting microhabitat array is for microorganisms and comprises a plurality of microhabitats in a substrate. At least two microhabitats are connected in series by at least one corridor. The corridor is of sufficient size to allow the microorganism to move between microhabitats. The microorganism's movement is not completely obstructed, but is partially restricted such that different populations of the microorganism are able to develop on the array such that the array represents a metapopulation. In one aspect, the microorganism is a single-celled organism. The invention also concerns a method of evaluating population colonizations and extinctions in a metapopulation of microorganisms comprising introducing at least one species of microorganism into an interacting microhabitat array as described above, providing nutrients to the microhabitats, removing waste from the microhabitats, and detecting population changes during a plurality of generations across the interacting microhabitat array. The inventors also disclose a method of screening for an agent capable of modulating biofilms comprising: a) culturing a species of microorganism capable of forming a biofilm in the interacting microhabitat array of the invention such that at least one biofilm is formed, (b) adding a test agent to the culture, and (c) detecting whether a change occurs in the biofilm in the presence of the test agent. The disclosure is also drawn to a method of screening for an agent capable of modulating a microorganism population comprising: a) culturing at least one species of microorganism in an interacting microhabitat array such that metapopulations of the microorganism are formed, (b) adding a test agent to the microhabitat array, and (c) detecting whether a change occurs in the metapopulations of the microorganism in the presence of the test agent.