Planktonic interference and biofilm alliance between aggregation substance and endocarditis and biofilm associated pili inEnterococcus faecalis

Planktonic Interference and Biofilm Alliance between Aggregation Substance and Endocarditis- and Biofilm-Associated Pili inEnterococcus faecalis

Journal of Bacteriology ◽

10.1128/jb.00361-18 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 200 (24) ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Irina Afonina ◽

Xin Ni Lim ◽

Rosalind Tan ◽

Kimberly A. Kline

Keyword(s):

Enterococcus Faecalis ◽

Biofilm Formation ◽

Bacterial Species ◽

Opportunistic Pathogen ◽

Plasmid Transfer ◽

Conjugative Plasmid ◽

Content Type ◽

Regulatory Pathways ◽

Aggregation Substance ◽

Biofilm Development

ABSTRACTLike many bacteria,Enterococcus faecalisencodes a number of adhesins involved in colonization or infection of different niches. Two well-studiedE. faecalisadhesins, aggregation substance (AS) and endocarditis- and biofilm-associated pili (Ebp), both contribute to biofilm formation on abiotic surfaces and in endocarditis, suggesting that they may be expressed at the same time. Because different regulatory pathways have been reported for AS and Ebp, here, we examined if they are coexpressed on the same cells and what is the functional impact of coexpression on individual cells and within a population. We found that while Ebp are only expressed on a subset of cells, when Ebp and AS are expressed on the same cells, pili interfere with AS-mediated clumping and impede AS-mediated conjugative plasmid transfer during planktonic growth. However, when the population density increases, horizontal gene transfer rates normalize and are no longer affected by pilus expression. Instead, at higher cell densities during biofilm formation, Ebp and AS differentially contribute to biofilm development and structure, synergizing to promote maximal biofilm formation.IMPORTANCEMost bacteria express multiple adhesins that contribute to surface attachment and colonization. However, the network and relationships between the various adhesins of a single bacterial species are less well understood. Here, we examined two well-characterized adhesins inEnterococcus faecalis, aggregation substance and endocarditis- and biofilm-associated pili, and found that they exhibit distinct functional contributions depending on the growth stage of the bacterial community. Pili interfere with aggregation substance-mediated clumping and plasmid transfer under planktonic conditions, whereas the two adhesins structurally complement one another during biofilm development. This study advances our understanding of howE. faecalis, a ubiquitous member of the human gut microbiome and an opportunistic pathogen, uses multiple surface structures to evolve and thrive.

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Biofilm Formation by Streptococcus pneumoniae: Role of Choline, Extracellular DNA, and Capsular Polysaccharide in Microbial Accretion

Journal of Bacteriology ◽

10.1128/jb.00673-06 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 188 (22) ◽

pp. 7785-7795 ◽

Cited By ~ 213

Author(s):

Miriam Moscoso ◽

Ernesto García ◽

Rubens López

Keyword(s):

Streptococcus Pneumoniae ◽

Biofilm Formation ◽

Laser Scanning Microscopy ◽

Extracellular Dna ◽

Dimensional Structure ◽

Confocal Laser ◽

Upper Respiratory Tract ◽

Teichoic Acids ◽

Abiotic Surfaces ◽

Biofilm Development

ABSTRACTStreptococcus pneumoniaecolonizes the human upper respiratory tract, and this asymptomatic colonization is known to precede pneumococcal disease. In this report, chemically defined and semisynthetic media were used to identify the initial steps of biofilm formation by pneumococcus during growth on abiotic surfaces such as polystyrene or glass. Unencapsulated pneumococci adhered to abiotic surfaces and formed a three-dimensional structure about 25 μm deep, as observed by confocal laser scanning microscopy and low-temperature scanning electron microscopy. Choline residues of cell wall teichoic acids were found to play a fundamental role in pneumococcal biofilm development. The role in biofilm formation of choline-binding proteins, which anchor to the teichoic acids of the cell envelope, was determined using unambiguously characterized mutants. The results showed that LytA amidase, LytC lysozyme, LytB glucosaminidase, CbpA adhesin, PcpA putative adhesin, and PspA (pneumococcal surface protein A) mutants had a decreased capacity to form biofilms, whereas no such reduction was observed in Pce phosphocholinesterase or CbpD putative amidase mutants. Moreover, encapsulated, clinical pneumococcal isolates were impaired in their capacity to form biofilms. In addition, a role for extracellular DNA and proteins in the establishment ofS. pneumoniaebiofilms was demonstrated. Taken together, these observations provide information on conditions that favor the sessile mode of growth byS. pneumoniae. The experimental approach described here should facilitate the study of bacterial genes that are required for biofilm formation. Those results, in turn, may provide insight into strategies to prevent pneumococcal colonization of its human host.

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Cell Autoaggregation, Biofilm Formation, and Plant Attachment in a Sinorhizobium meliloti lpsB Mutant

Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions ◽

10.1094/mpmi-01-18-0004-r ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 31 (10) ◽

pp. 1075-1082 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Fernando Sorroche ◽

Pablo Bogino ◽

Daniela M. Russo ◽

Angeles Zorreguieta ◽

Fiorela Nievas ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Biofilm Formation ◽

Sinorhizobium Meliloti ◽

Planktonic Cell ◽

Confocal Laser ◽

Bacterial Surface ◽

Abiotic Surfaces ◽

Defective Mutant ◽

Mutant Strains ◽

Adhesive Interactions ◽

Biofilm Development

Bacterial surface molecules are crucial for the establishment of a successful rhizobia-legume symbiosis, and, in most bacteria, are also critical for adherence properties, surface colonization, and as a barrier for defense. Rhizobial mutants defective in the production of exopolysaccharides (EPSs), lipopolysaccharides (LPSs), or capsular polysaccharides are usually affected in symbiosis with their plant hosts. In the present study, we evaluated the role of the combined effects of LPS and EPS II in cell-to-cell and cell-to-surface interactions in Sinorhizobium meliloti by studying planktonic cell autoaggregation, biofilm formation, and symbiosis with the host plant Medicago sativa. The lpsB mutant, which has a defective core portion of LPS, exhibited a reduction in biofilm formation on abiotic surfaces as well as altered biofilm architecture compared with the wild-type Rm8530 strain. Atomic force microscopy and confocal laser microscopy revealed an increase in polar cell-to-cell interactions in the lpsB mutant, which might account for the biofilm deficiency. However, a certain level of biofilm development was observed in the lpsB strain compared with the EPS II-defective mutant strains. Autoaggregation experiments carried out with LPS and EPS mutant strains showed that both polysaccharides have an impact on the cell-to-cell adhesive interactions of planktonic bacteria. Although the lpsB mutation and the loss of EPS II production strongly stimulated early attachment to alfalfa roots, the number of nodules induced in M. sativa was not increased. Taken together, this work demonstrates that S. meliloti interactions with biotic and abiotic surfaces depend on the interplay between LPS and EPS II.

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Bundle-Forming Pili and EspA Are Involved in Biofilm Formation by Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli

Journal of Bacteriology ◽

10.1128/jb.00177-06 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 188 (11) ◽

pp. 3952-3961 ◽

Cited By ~ 53

Author(s):

Cristiano G. Moreira ◽

Kelli Palmer ◽

Marvin Whiteley ◽

Marcelo P. Sircili ◽

Luiz R. Trabulsi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Escherichia Coli ◽

Biofilm Formation ◽

Signaling Mechanism ◽

Bacterial Aggregation ◽

Abiotic Surfaces ◽

Genes Encoding ◽

Continuous Culture System ◽

Static Conditions ◽

Biofilm Development ◽

Isogenic Mutants

ABSTRACT Microcolony formation is one of the initial steps in biofilm development, and in enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) it is mediated by several adhesins, including the bundle-forming pilus (BFP) and the EspA filament. Here we report that EPEC forms biofilms on plastic under static conditions and a flowthrough continuous culture system. The abilities of several EPEC isogenic mutants to form biofilms were assessed. Adhesins such as BFP and EspA, important in microcolony formation on epithelial cells, are also involved in bacterial aggregation during biofilm formation on abiotic surfaces. Mutants that do not express BFP or EspA form more-diffuse biofilms than does the wild type. We also determined, using gfp transcriptional fusions, that, consistent with the role of these adhesins in biofilms, the genes encoding BFP and EspA are expressed during biofilm formation. Finally, expression of espA is controlled by a quorum-sensing (QS) regulatory mechanism, and the EPEC qseA QS mutant also forms altered biofilms, suggesting that this signaling mechanism plays an important role in EPEC biofilm development. Taken together, these studies allowed us to propose a model of EPEC biofilm formation.

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Function of BriC Peptide in the Pneumococcal Competence and Virulence Portfolio

10.1101/245902 ◽

2018 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Surya D. Aggarwal ◽

Rory Eutsey ◽

Jacob West-Roberts ◽

Arnau Domenech ◽

Wenjie Xu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Murine Model ◽

Biofilm Formation ◽

Opportunistic Pathogen ◽

Nasopharyngeal Colonization ◽

Point Of Entry ◽

Abiotic Surfaces ◽

Biofilm Development

AbstractStreptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus) is an opportunistic pathogen that causes otitis media, sinusitis, pneumonia, meningitis and sepsis. The progression to this pathogenic lifestyle is preceded by asymptomatic colonization of the nasopharynx. This colonization is associated with biofilm formation; the competence pathway influences the structure and stability of biofilms. However, the molecules that link the competence pathway to biofilm formation are unknown. Here, we describe a new competence-induced gene, called briC, and demonstrate that its product promotes biofilm development and stimulates colonization in a murine model. We show that expression of briC is induced by the master regulator of competence, ComE. Whereas briC does not substantially influence early biofilm development on abiotic surfaces, it significantly impacts later stages of biofilm development. Specifically, briC expression leads to increases in biofilm biomass and thickness at 72h. Consistent with the role of biofilms in colonization, briC promotes nasopharyngeal colonization in the murine model. The function of BriC appears to be conserved across pneumococci, as comparative genomics reveal that briC is widespread across isolates. Surprisingly, many isolates, including strains from clinically important PMEN1 and PMEN14 lineages, which are widely associated with colonization, encode a long briC promoter. This long form captures an instance of genomic plasticity and functions as a competence-independent expression enhancer that may serve as a precocious point of entry into this otherwise competence-regulated pathway. Moreover, overexpression of briC by the long promoter fully rescues the comE-deletion induced biofilm defect in vitro, and partially in vivo. These findings indicate that BriC may bypass the influence of competence in biofilm development and that such a pathway may be active in a subset of pneumococcal lineages. In conclusion, BriC is a part of the complex molecular network that connects signaling of the competence pathway to biofilm development and colonization.

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Mat fimbriae promote biofilm formation by meningitis-associated Escherichia coli

Microbiology ◽

10.1099/mic.0.039610-0 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 156 (8) ◽

pp. 2408-2417 ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

Timo A. Lehti ◽

Philippe Bauchart ◽

Johanna Heikkinen ◽

Jörg Hacker ◽

Timo K. Korhonen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Escherichia Coli ◽

Biofilm Formation ◽

Early Stage ◽

Surface Expression ◽

Growth Media ◽

Biofilm Growth ◽

Abiotic Surfaces ◽

K 12 ◽

Biofilm Development

The mat (or ecp) fimbrial operon is ubiquitous and conserved in Escherichia coli, but its functions remain poorly described. In routine growth media newborn meningitis isolates of E. coli express the meningitis-associated and temperature-regulated (Mat) fimbria, also termed E. coli common pilus (ECP), at 20 °C, and here we show that the six-gene (matABCDEF)-encoded Mat fimbria is needed for temperature-dependent biofilm formation on abiotic surfaces. The matBCDEF deletion mutant of meningitis E. coli IHE 3034 was defective in an early stage of biofilm development and consequently unable to establish a detectable biofilm, contrasting with IHE 3034 derivatives deleted for flagella, type 1 fimbriae or S-fimbriae, which retained the wild-type biofilm phenotype. Furthermore, induced production of Mat fimbriae from expression plasmids enabled biofilm-deficient E. coli K-12 cells to form biofilm at 20 °C. No biofilm was detected with IHE 3034 or MG1655 strains grown at 37 °C. The surface expression of Mat fimbriae and the frequency of Mat-positive cells in the IHE 3034 population from 20 °C were high and remained unaltered during the transition from planktonic to biofilm growth and within the matured biofilm community. Considering the prevalence of the highly conserved mat locus in E. coli genomes, we hypothesize that Mat fimbria-mediated biofilm formation is an ancestral characteristic of E. coli.

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Abstracts of an international conference “Biofilms II: Attachment and detachment in pure and mixed cultures”, held at the Leipziger Kubus UFZ Centre for Environmental Research, Leipzig, Germany, from 23 March to 24 March 2006

Biofilms ◽

10.1017/s1479050506001992 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 2 (4) ◽

pp. 245-273

Keyword(s):

Escherichia Coli ◽

Biofilm Formation ◽

Extracellular Polymeric Substances ◽

Three Dimensional ◽

Conjugative Plasmid ◽

Environmental Research ◽

Biofilm Growth ◽

Biofilm Detachment ◽

Biofilm Development

The effect of growth and detachment on formation of large-scale biofilm structureBiofilm cohesive energy density determination using a novel atomic force microscopy methodologyFluorescence correlation spectroscopy under two-photon excitation for the study of diffusion and reactivity of bacteriophage inside bacterial biofilmsBiothermodynamic characterization and dynamic analysis of biofilms using calorimetryBiomimetic antifouling coatings for sensor surfaces for water monitoring: performance control in defined biofilm cultures and under real environmental conditionsThe contribution of rpos to formation of Escherichia coli biofilmsSynergistic effects in mixed Escherichia coli biofilms: conjugative plasmid transfer drives biofilm expansionThe universal stress protein PA3309 in Pseudomonas aeruginosa is induced in biofilmsExtracellular polymeric substances from biofilms on membranes in waste-water treatment plantsBiofilm-to-planktonic cell yield: a strategy for proliferationPhysiological and phylogenetic characterization of the dispersed and loosely attached fraction of activated sludge flocsTowards a deterministic model of biofilm detachment: an experimental studyEffect of backwash on the characteristics of biofilm in a biological activated filter reactor using elemental sulfur particlesProcess performance and biomass properties in membrane-aerated bioreactorsBioaugmentation via conjugation in biofilms treating 3-chloroaniline: effects of selective pressureEffect of phosphorus on biofilm growth in a completely mixed biofilm reactorImpacts of biofilm development on reactive transport in porous media under variable flow regimensInfluence of biofilms on colloid mobility in the subsurfaceBiofilms in amendable in situ microcosms indicate relevant electron acceptor processes at a BTEX-contaminated aquiferFunctional biodiversity of complex biofilms grown on polychlorinated biphenyl oilIdentification and characterization of biofilm formation phenotypes of several clinically relevant Streptococcus pyogenes serotype strainsSelected probiotic bacteria disrupt biofilm development of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faeciumComparison of the extracellular polymeric substances of Candida albicans and Candida dubliniensis biofilmsInfluence of quorum-sensing regulated production of an antimicrobial component by Serratia plymuthica on establishment of dual species biofilms with Escherichia coliBiofilm formation by the thermophilic and cellulolytic actinomycete Thermobifida fuscaBiomonitoring of bacterial contamination on different surfaces of food-processing machinesRole of the flagella during the adhesion of Listeria monocytogenes EGD-e to inert surfaces after cultivation at different pHs and temperaturesAdhesion of Saccharomyces cerevisiae to stainless steel: influence of surface propertiesInvestigating the mechanical strength of biofilms with fluid dynamic gaugingThree-dimensional biofilm model with individual cells and continuum extracellular polymeric substances matrixA three-dimensional computer model analysis of four hypothetical biofilm detachment mechanismsModelling biofilm growth, detachment and fluid flow in a cross-section of tube reactorsBiofilm games

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Flagellar Motility Is Critical for Listeria monocytogenes Biofilm Formation

Journal of Bacteriology ◽

10.1128/jb.01967-06 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 189 (12) ◽

pp. 4418-4424 ◽

Cited By ~ 231

Author(s):

Katherine P. Lemon ◽

Darren E. Higgins ◽

Roberto Kolter

Keyword(s):

Listeria Monocytogenes ◽

Biofilm Formation ◽

Molecular Mechanisms ◽

Early Stage ◽

Food Contamination ◽

Initial Surface ◽

Flagellar Motility ◽

Surface Attachment ◽

Abiotic Surfaces ◽

Biofilm Development

ABSTRACT The food-borne pathogen Listeria monocytogenes attaches to environmental surfaces and forms biofilms that can be a source of food contamination, yet little is known about the molecular mechanisms of its biofilm development. We observed that nonmotile mutants were defective in biofilm formation. To investigate how flagella might function during biofilm formation, we compared the wild type with flagellum-minus and paralyzed-flagellum mutants. Both nonmotile mutants were defective in biofilm development, presumably at an early stage, as they were also defective in attachment to glass during the first few hours of surface exposure. This attachment defect could be significantly overcome by providing exogenous movement toward the surface via centrifugation. However, this centrifugation did not restore mature biofilm formation. Our results indicate that it is flagellum-mediated motility that is critical for both initial surface attachment and subsequent biofilm formation. Also, any role for L. monocytogenes flagella as adhesins on abiotic surfaces appears to be either minimal or motility dependent under the conditions we examined.

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Conjugative Plasmid Transfer and Adhesion Dynamics in an Escherichia coli Biofilm

Applied and Environmental Microbiology ◽

10.1128/aem.00974-09 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 75 (21) ◽

pp. 6783-6791 ◽

Cited By ~ 39

Author(s):

Cheryl-Lynn Y. Ong ◽

Scott A. Beatson ◽

Alastair G. McEwan ◽

Mark A. Schembri

Keyword(s):

Escherichia Coli ◽

Biofilm Formation ◽

Type Iv Secretion ◽

Conjugative Plasmid ◽

Incompatibility Group ◽

E Coli ◽

Type Iv ◽

Conjugative Plasmid Transfer ◽

System Type ◽

Type 3

ABSTRACT A conjugative plasmid from the catheter-associated urinary tract infection strain Escherichia coli MS2027 was sequenced and annotated. This 42,644-bp plasmid, designated pMAS2027, contains 58 putative genes and is most closely related to plasmids belonging to incompatibility group X (IncX1). Plasmid pMAS2027 encodes two important virulence factors: type 3 fimbriae and a type IV secretion (T4S) system. Type 3 fimbriae, recently found to be functionally expressed in E. coli, played an important role in biofilm formation. Biofilm formation by E. coli MS2027 was specifically due to expression of type 3 fimbriae and not the T4S system. The T4S system, however, accounted for the conjugative ability of pMAS2027 and enabled a non-biofilm-forming strain to grow as part of a mixed biofilm following acquisition of this plasmid. Thus, the importance of conjugation as a mechanism to spread biofilm determinants was demonstrated. Conjugation may represent an important mechanism by which type 3 fimbria genes are transferred among the Enterobacteriaceae that cause device-related infections in nosocomial settings.

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The Enterococcus faecalis fsr Two-Component System Controls Biofilm Development through Production of Gelatinase

Journal of Bacteriology ◽

10.1128/jb.186.17.5629-5639.2004 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 186 (17) ◽

pp. 5629-5639 ◽

Cited By ~ 173

Author(s):

Lynn E. Hancock ◽

Marta Perego

Keyword(s):

Enterococcus Faecalis ◽

Bacterial Growth ◽

Biofilm Formation ◽

Heart Valves ◽

Bacterial Resistance ◽

Two Component System ◽

Component System ◽

Abiotic Surfaces ◽

Two Component ◽

Biofilm Development

ABSTRACT Bacterial growth as a biofilm on solid surfaces is strongly associated with the development of human infections. Biofilms on native heart valves (infective endocarditis) is a life-threatening disease as a consequence of bacterial resistance to antimicrobials in such a state. Enterococci have emerged as a cause of endocarditis and nosocomial infections despite being normal commensals of the gastrointestinal and female genital tracts. We examined the role of two-component signal transduction systems in biofilm formation by the Enterococcus faecalis V583 clinical isolate and identified the fsr regulatory locus as the sole two-component system affecting this unique mode of bacterial growth. Insertion mutations in the fsr operon affected biofilm formation on two distinct abiotic surfaces. Inactivation of the fsr-controlled gene gelE encoding the zinc-metalloprotease gelatinase was found to prevent biofilm formation, suggesting that this enzyme may present a unique target for therapeutic intervention in enterococcal endocarditis.

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