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Cell wall associated protein TasA provides an initial binding component to extracellular polysaccharides in dual-species biofilm.

ABSTRACT: Many bacteria in biofilm surround themselves by an extracellular matrix composed mainly of extracellular polysaccharide (EP), proteins such as amyloid-like fibers (ALF) and nucleic acids. While the importance of EP in attachment and acceleration of biofilm by a number of different bacterial species is well established, the contribution of ALF to attachment in multispecies biofilm remains unknown. The study presented here aimed to investigate the role of TasA, a precursor for ALF, in cell-cell interactions in dual-species biofilms of Bacillus subtilis and Streptococcus mutans. Expression of major B. subtilis matrix operons was significantly up-regulated in the presence of S. mutans during different stages of biofilm formation, suggesting that the two species interacted and modulated gene expression in each other. Wild-type B. subtilis expressing TasA adhered strongly to S. mutans biofilm, while a TasA-deficient mutant was less adhesive and consequently less abundant in the dual-species biofilm. Dextran, a biofilm polysaccharide, induced aggregation of B. subtilis and stimulated adhesion to S. mutans biofilms. This effect was only observed in the wild-type strain, suggesting that interactions between TasA and dextran-associated EP plays an important role in inter-species interactions during initial stages of multispecies biofilm development.

SUBMITTER: Duanis-Assaf D

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6008451 | biostudies-other | 2018 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-other

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Cell wall associated protein TasA provides an initial binding component to extracellular polysaccharides in dual-species biofilm.

Duanis-Assaf Danielle D Duanis-Assaf Tal T Zeng Guanghong G Meyer Rikke Louise RL Reches Meital M Steinberg Doron D Shemesh Moshe M

Scientific reports 20180619 1

Many bacteria in biofilm surround themselves by an extracellular matrix composed mainly of extracellular polysaccharide (EP), proteins such as amyloid-like fibers (ALF) and nucleic acids. While the importance of EP in attachment and acceleration of biofilm by a number of different bacterial species is well established, the contribution of ALF to attachment in multispecies biofilm remains unknown. The study presented here aimed to investigate the role of TasA, a precursor for ALF, in cell-cell in ...[more]

PMID: 29921978

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Project description:Many microbes coexist within biofilms, or multispecies communities of cells encased in an extracellular matrix. However, little is known about the microbe-microbe interactions relevant for creating these structures. In this study, we explored a striking dual-species biofilm between Bacillus subtilis and Pantoea agglomerans that exhibited characteristics that were not predictable from previous work examining monoculture biofilms. Coculture wrinkle formation required a P. agglomerans exopolysaccharide as well as the B. subtilis amyloid-like protein TasA. Unexpectedly, other B. subtilis matrix components essential for monoculture biofilm formation were not necessary for coculture wrinkling (e.g., the exopolysaccharide EPS, the hydrophobin BslA, and cell chaining). In addition, B. subtilis cell chaining prevented coculture wrinkling, even though chaining was previously associated with more robust monoculture biofilms. We also observed that increasing the relative proportion of P. agglomerans (which forms completely featureless monoculture colonies) increased coculture wrinkling. Using microscopy and rheology, we observed that these two bacteria assemble into an organized layered structure that reflects the physical properties of both monocultures. This partitioning into distinct regions negatively affected the survival of P. agglomerans while also serving as a protective mechanism in the presence of antibiotic stress. Taken together, these data indicate that studying cocultures is a productive avenue to identify novel mechanisms that drive the formation of structured microbial communities.IMPORTANCE In the environment, many microbes form biofilms. However, the interspecies interactions underlying bacterial coexistence within these biofilms remain understudied. Here, we mimic environmentally relevant biofilms by studying a dual-species biofilm formed between Bacillus subtilis and Pantoea agglomerans and subjecting the coculture to chemical and physical stressors that it may experience in the natural world. We determined that both bacteria contribute structural elements to the coculture, which is reflected in its overall viscoelastic behavior. Existence within the coculture can be either beneficial or detrimental depending on the context. Many of the features and determinants of the coculture biofilm appear distinct from those identified in monoculture biofilm studies, highlighting the importance of characterizing multispecies consortia to understand naturally occurring bacterial interactions.

Dataset Information

Cell wall associated protein TasA provides an initial binding component to extracellular polysaccharides in dual-species biofilm.

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Cell wall associated protein TasA provides an initial binding component to extracellular polysaccharides in dual-species biofilm.

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