Journal of Microbiology

Journal Article

Circular pellicles formed by Pseudomonas alkylphenolica KL28 are a sophisticated architecture principally designed by matrix substance: Myeong Mi Song , Yaligara Veeranagouda , Munkhtsatsral Ganzorig , Kyoung Lee; J. Microbiol. 2018;56(11):790-797. Published online October 24, 2018; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12275-018-8252-7

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Abstract: The colonization of liquid surfaces as floating biofilms or pellicles is a bacterial adaptation to optimally occupy the airliquid (A-L) niche. In aerobic heterotrophs, pellicle formation is beneficial for the utilization of O2 and nonpolar organic compounds. Pseudomonas alkylphenolica KL28, an alkylphenol degrader, forms flat circular pellicles that are 0.3– 0.5 mm in diameter. In this study, we first monitored the pellicle developmental patterns of multicellular organization from the initial settlement stage. The pellicles developed by clonal growth and mutants for flagella and pilus formation established normal pellicles. In contrast, the mutants of an epm gene cluster for biosynthesis of alginate-like polymer were incompetent in cell alignment for initial two-dimensional (2D) pellicle growth, suggesting the role of the Epm polymer as a structural scaffold for pellicle biofilms. Microscopic observation revealed that the initial 2D growth transited to multilayers by an accumulated self-produced extracellular polymeric substance that may exert a constraint force. Electron microscopy and confocal laser scanning microscopy revealed that the fully matured pellicle structures were densly packed with matrix-encased cells displaying distinct arrangements. The cells on the surface of the pellicle were relatively flat, and those inside were longitudinally cross-packed. The extracellular polysaccharide stained by Congo red was denser on the pellicle rim and a thin film was observed in the open spaces, indicative of its role in pellicle flotation. Our results demonstrate that P. alkylphenolica KL28 coordinately dictates the cell arrangements of pellicle biofilms by the controlled growth of constituent cells that accumulate extracellular polymeric substances.

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Acinetobacter baumannii Biofilms: Variations Among Strains and Correlations with Other Cell Properties: Christin N. McQueary , Luis A. Actis; J. Microbiol. 2011;49(2):243-250. Published online May 3, 2011; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12275-011-0343-7

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62 Citations

Abstract: Acinetobacter baumannii is an opportunistic pathogen that causes serious infections in humans by colonizing and persisting on surfaces normally found in hospital settings. The capacity of this pathogen to persist in these settings could be due to its ability to form biofilms on inanimate surfaces. This report shows that although the ATCC 19606T type strain and 8 different clinical isolates form biofilms, there are significant variations in the cell density and microscopic structures of these cell aggregates, with 3 of the isolates forming pellicles floating on the surface of stagnant broth cultures. PCR indicated that, like ATCC 19606T, all 8 clinical isolates harbor all the genetic components of the CsuA/BABCDE chaperone-usher pili assembly system, which is needed for biofilm formation on plastic. Pili detection in cells of all strains examined supports the presence and function of a pilus assembly system. However, only one of them produced the putative ATCC 19606T CsuA/B pilin subunit protein. Hydrophobicity tests and motility assays also showed significant variations among all tested strains and did not result in direct correlations between the biofilm phenotype and cell properties that could affect biofilm formation on abiotic surfaces. This lack of correlation among these 3 phenotypes may reflect some of the variations already reported with this pathogen, which may pose a challenge in the treatment of the infections this pathogen causes in humans using biofilm formation on abiotic surfaces as a target.

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