Fig. 1

Overview of semi-automated biofilm assay from metadata tables (a) to measurement workflow (c). Hexagonal boxes indicate manual steps of biofilm assay procedure. Rounded boxes represent robotised steps. Dashed, grey-lined boxes represent main sections of the biofilm assay protocol. a Metadata tables in .xlsx worksheet are used to plan the layout of samples on the multi-well plate (see Additional file 1). Table headings represent factors (cell_culture & treatment), whose levels (respectively, ax, co & xen, as well as NA for controls & S32 for co-cultures) fill the plate-congruent coordinate systems of the tables. Grey cells indicates bases for formulas, which help to rapidly fill repetitive tables with for example technical replicates or dilution calculations. b Photo of incubated plate, ready for removal of non-adherent cells and absorbance measurement. c Robotised measurement preparation (see Table 1), absorbance read-out and data processing from biofilm assay plates (see Additional files 3, 4, 5 and 6)