Project description:Multispecies biofilms are the predominant form of bacterial growth in natural and human-associated environments. Although the pathways involved in monospecies biofilm have been well characterized, less is known about the metabolic pathways and emergent traits of a multispecies biofilm community. Here, we performed a transcriptome survey of the developmental stages of a 3-species biofilm community and combined it with quantitative imaging and growth experiments. We report the remodelling of central metabolism of two of the three species in this community. Specifically, we observed an increase in the expression of genes associated with glycolysis and pentose phosphate pathways in K. pneumoniae. Similarly, a decrease in the expression of the same pathways in P. protegens was observed along with an increase in expression of glyoxalate cycle genes when grown as a mixed species biofilm, suggesting reorganisation of metabolic pathways and metabolite sharing for the community biofilms. To test the possibility of cross-feeding for the community, planktonic growth experiments revealed that both the Pseudomonads grew well in TCA cycle intermediates, while K. pneumoniae grew poorly when given those carbon sources. Despite this poor growth in mono-culture, K. pneumoniae was still the dominant species in mixed species biofilms cultivated in TCA intermediates as the sole source of carbon. The biofilm growth data, combined with the transcriptomics data, suggests there is reorganisation of metabolism for the community members and may allow for cross-feeding that allows K. pneumoniae to dominate the community. We also demonstrated that sdsA1 of P. aeruginosa was induced upon exposure to the surfactant SDS and that this gene was essential in protecting mono and mixed species biofilms from surfactant stress. This also suggests that the community members can share defence mechanisms. Overall, this study describes a comprehensive transcriptomics level investigation of shared resources, metabolites and stress defence that may underpin the emergent properties of mixed species biofilm communities.
Project description:Prolific heterotrophic biofilm growth is a common occurrence in airport receiving streams containing deicer and anti-icer runoff. This study investigated relations of heterotrophic biofilm prevalence and community composition to environmental conditions at stream sites upstream and downstream of Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport in Milwaukee, WI, during two deicing seasons (2009–2010 and 2010–2011). Modern genetic tools (such as microarray) have not previously been applied to biofilm communities in this type of setting. We used microarray results to characterize biofilm community composition as well as the response of the biofilm community to environmental factors (i.e., organic content (using chemical oxygen demand concentration) and temperature).
Project description:In nature, bacteria reside in biofilms - multicellular differentiated communities held together by extracellular matrix. In this work, we identified a novel subpopulation essential for biofilm formation – mineral-forming cells in Bacillus subtilis biofilms. This subpopulation contains an intracellular calcium-accumulating niche, in which the formation of a calcium carbonate mineral is initiated. As the biofilm colony develops, this mineral grows in a controlled manner, forming a functional macrostructure that serves the entire community. Consistently, biofilm development is prevented by inhibition of calcium uptake. Taken together, our results provide a clear demonstration of the orchestrated production of calcite exoskeleton, critical to morphogenesis in simple prokaryotes. We expect future research exploring this newly discovered process to shed further light on mechanisms of bacterial development.
Project description:Intercellular signal indole and its derivative hydroxyindoles inhibit Escherichia coli biofilm and diminish Pseudomonas aeruginosa virulence. However, indole and bacterial indole derivatives were unstable in microbial community due to the widespread of diverse oxygenases that could quickly degrade them. Hence, we sought to identify novel non-toxic, stable, and potent indole derivatives from plant sources for inhibiting biofilm formation of E. coli O157:H7 and P. aeruginosa PAO1. Here, plant auxin 3-indolylacetonitrile (IAN) was found to inhibit biofilm formation of both E. coli O157:H7 and P. aeruginosa without affecting its growth. IAN inhibited biofilms more effectively than indole for both E. coli and P. aeruginosa. Additionally, IAN decreased the production of virulence factor pyocyanin in P. aeruginosa. DNA microarray analysis indicated that IAN repressed genes involved in curli formation and glycerol metabolism, while IAN induced indole-related genes and prophage genes in E. coli. It appears that IAN inhibits biofilm formation of E. coli by reducing curli formation and inducing indole production. Furthermore, unlike bacterial indole derivatives, plant-originated IAN was stable in the presence of either E. coli or P. aeruginosa.
Project description:Intercellular signal indole and its derivative hydroxyindoles inhibit Escherichia coli biofilm and diminish Pseudomonas aeruginosa virulence. However, indole and bacterial indole derivatives were unstable in microbial community due to the widespread of diverse oxygenases that could quickly degrade them. Hence, we sought to identify novel non-toxic, stable, and potent indole derivatives from plant sources for inhibiting biofilm formation of E. coli O157:H7 and P. aeruginosa PAO1. Here, plant auxin 3-indolylacetonitrile (IAN) was found to inhibit biofilm formation of both E. coli O157:H7 and P. aeruginosa without affecting its growth. IAN inhibited biofilms more effectively than indole for both E. coli and P. aeruginosa. Additionally, IAN decreased the production of virulence factor pyocyanin in P. aeruginosa. DNA microarray analysis indicated that IAN repressed genes involved in curli formation and glycerol metabolism, while IAN induced indole-related genes and prophage genes in E. coli. It appears that IAN inhibits biofilm formation of E. coli by reducing curli formation and inducing indole production. Furthermore, unlike bacterial indole derivatives, plant-originated IAN was stable in the presence of either E. coli or P. aeruginosa.