Unsaturated Fatty Acid,cis-2-Decenoic Acid,in Combination with Disinfectants or Antibiotics Removes Pre-Established Biofilms Formed by Food-Related Bacteria

Biofilm formation by food-related bacteria and food-related pathogenesis are significant problems in the food industry. Even though much disinfection and mechanical procedure exist for removal of biofilms, they may fail to eliminate pre-established biofilms. cis-2 decenoic acid (CDA), an unsaturated fatty acid messenger produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, is reportedly capable of inducing the dispersion of established biofilms by multiple types of microorganisms. However, whether CDA has potential to boost the actions of certain antimicrobials is unknown. Here, the activity of CDA as an inducer of pre-established biofilms dispersal, formed by four main food pathogens; Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, Salmonella enterica and E. coli, was measured using both semi-batch and continuous cultures bioassays. To assess the ability of CDA combined biocides treatments to remove pre-established biofilms formed on stainless steel discs, CFU counts were performed for both treated and untreated cultures. Eradication of the biofilms by CDA combined antibiotics was evaluated using crystal violet staining. The effect of CDA combined treatments (antibiotics and disinfectants) on biofilm surface area and bacteria viability was evaluated using fluorescence microscopy, digital image analysis and LIVE/DEAD staining. MICs were also determined to assess the probable inhibitory effects of CDA combined treatments on the growth of tested microorganisms'' planktonic cells. Treatment of pre-established biofilms with only 310 nM CDA resulted in at least two-fold increase in the number of planktonic cells in all cultures. While antibiotics or disinfectants alone exerted a trivial effect on CFU counts and percentage of surface area covered by the biofilms, combinational treatments with both 310 nM CDA and antibiotics or disinfectants led to approximate 80% reduction in biofilm biomass. These data suggests that combined treatments with CDA would pave the way toward developing new strategies to control biofilms with widespread applications in industry as well as medicine.     

Chimeric analogs of human β-defensin 1 and θ-defensin disrupt pre-established bacterial biofilms

Antibiofilm activity of several human defensin analogs that have the ability to kill planktonic bacteria, against pre-established biofilms of Escherichia coli MG1655 and Staphylococcus aureus NCTC 8530 were examined. Linear and linear fatty acylated analogs did not show any activity while disulfide constrained analogs disrupted pre-established S. aureus biofilms. Chimeric analogs of human β-defensin 1 and θ-defensin, hBTD-1 and [d]hBTD-1 were highly active against S. aureus biofilms. Among the analogs tested, only the d-enantiomer [d]hBTD-1 showed activity against E. coli biofilm. Our study provides insights into the structural requirements for the eradication of pre-established biofilms in defensin analogs.     

Optimized plant compound with potent anti-biofilm activity across gram-negative species

Many human diseases, including cystic fibrosis lung infections, are caused or exacerbated by bacterial biofilms. Specialized modes of motility, including swarming and twitching, allow gram-negative bacteria to spread across surfaces and form biofilms. Compounds that inhibit these motilities could slow the spread of biofilms, thereby allowing antibiotics to work better. We previously demonstrated that a set of plant-derived triterpenes, including oleanolic acid and ursolic acid, inhibit formation of Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms, and alter expression of genes involved in chemotaxis and motility. In the present study, we have prepared a series of analogs of oleanolic acid. The analogs were evaluated against clinical isolates of E. coli and P. aeruginosa in biofilm formation assays and swarming assays. From these analogs, compound 9 was selected as a lead compound for further development. Compound 9 inhibits E. coli biofilm formation at 4 µg/mL; it also inhibits swarming at ≤1 µg/mL across multiple clinical isolates of P. aeruginosa, E. coli, Burkholderia cepacia, and Salmonella enterica, and at <0.5 µg/mL against multiple agricultural strains. Compound 9 also potentiates the activity of the antibiotics tobramycin and colistin against swarming P. aeruginosa; this is notable, as tobramycin and colistin are inhaled antibiotics commonly used to treat P. aeruginosa lung infections in people with cystic fibrosis. qPCR experiments suggested that 9 alters expression of genes involved in regulating Type IV pili; western blots confirmed that expression of Type IV pili components PilA and PilY1 decreases in P. aeruginosa in the presence of 9.     

The influence of biofilm structure and total interaction energy on Escherichia coli retention by Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm

The retention of a surrogate pathogenic bacterium, Escherichia coli^T , in Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms (with various EPS excreting capacities) was investigated using a laboratory flow cell system. The structural characteristics of the biofilm, as well as the quantity of E. coli^T retained in the biofilm, were assessed using confocal laser scanning microscopy coupled with image analysis. In addition, the total interaction energy between E. coli^T and the P. aeruginosa biofilm was computed with the Derjaguin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek (DLVO) theory, which provided an additional context to explain the pathogen interaction in aquatic biofilms. The correlations between the quantity of detained E. coli^T cells and the structural characteristics of the biofilm were analysed and the results indicated that the heterogeneity of the biofilm could create a quiescent zone leading to temporary retention of E. coli^T within the biofilm. Overall, this study provided insights toward understanding the retention of pathogenic bacteria in environmental biofilms.     

Legionella pneumophila Persists within Biofilms Formed by Klebsiella pneumoniae,Flavobacterium sp., and Pseudomonas fluorescens under Dynamic Flow Conditions

Legionella pneumophila, the agent of Legionnaires'' disease pneumonia, is transmitted to humans following the inhalation of contaminated water droplets. In aquatic systems, L. pneumophila survives much of time within multi-organismal biofilms. Therefore, we examined the ability of L. pneumophila (clinical isolate 130b) to persist within biofilms formed by various types of aquatic bacteria, using a bioreactor with flow, steel surfaces, and low-nutrient conditions. L. pneumophila was able to intercalate into and persist within a biofilm formed by Klebsiella pneumoniae, Flavobacterium sp. or Pseudomonas fluorescens. The levels of L. pneumophila within these biofilms were as much as 4×10⁴ CFU per cm² of steel coupon and lasted for at least 12 days. These data document that K. pneumoniae, Flavobacterium sp., and P. fluorescens can promote the presence of L. pneumophila in dynamic biofilms. In contrast to these results, L. pneumophila 130b did not persist within a biofilm formed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, confirming that some bacteria are permissive for Legionella colonization whereas others are antagonistic. In addition to colonizing certain mono-species biofilms, L. pneumophila 130b persisted within a two-species biofilm formed by K. pneumoniae and Flavobacterium sp. Interestingly, the legionellae were also able to colonize a two-species biofilm formed by K. pneumoniae and P. aeruginosa, demonstrating that a species that is permissive for L. pneumophila can override the inhibitory effect(s) of a non-permissive species.     

Role of planktonic and sessile extracellular metabolic byproducts on <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pseudomonas aeruginosa</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Escherichia coli</Emphasis> intra and interspecies relationships

Bacterial species are found primarily as residents of complex surface-associated communities, known as biofilms. Although these structures prevail in nature, bacteria still exist in planktonic lifestyle and differ from those in morphology, physiology, and metabolism. This study aimed to investigate the influence of physiological states of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli in cell-to-cell interactions. Filtered supernatants obtained under planktonic and biofilm cultures of each single species were supplemented with tryptic soy broth (TSB) and used as the growth media (conditioned media) to planktonic and sessile growth of both single- and two-species cultures. Planktonic bacterial growth was examined through OD₆₄₀ measurement. One-day-old biofilms were evaluated in terms of biofilm biomass (CV), respiratory activity (XTT), and CFU number. Conditioned media obtained either in biofilm or in planktonic mode of life triggered a synergistic effect on planktonic growth, mainly for E. coli single cultures growing in P. aeruginosa supernatants. Biofilms grown in the presence of P. aeruginosa biofilms-derived metabolites presented less mass and activity. These events highlight that, when developed in biofilm, P. aeruginosa release signals or metabolites able to prejudice single and binary biofilm growth of others species and of their own species. However, products released by their planktonic counterparts did not impair biofilm growth or activity. E. coli, living as planktonic or sessile cultures, released signals and metabolites or removed un-beneficial compounds which promoted the growth and activity of all the species. Our findings revealed that inter and intraspecies behaviors depend on the involved bacteria and their adopted mode of life.     

Kinetics and Strain Specificity of Rhizosphere and Endophytic Colonization by Enteric Bacteria on Seedlings of Medicago sativa and Medicago truncatula

The presence of human-pathogenic, enteric bacteria on the surface and in the interior of raw produce is a significant health concern. Several aspects of the biology of the interaction between these bacteria and alfalfa (Medicago sativa) seedlings are addressed here. A collection of enteric bacteria associated with alfalfa sprout contaminations, along with Escherichia coli K-12, Salmonella enterica serotype Typhimurium strain ATCC 14028, and an endophyte of maize, Klebsiella pneumoniae 342, were labeled with green fluorescent protein, and their abilities to colonize the rhizosphere and the interior of the plant were compared. These strains differed widely in their endophytic colonization abilities, with K. pneumoniae 342 and E. coli K-12 being the best and worst colonizers, respectively. The abilities of the pathogens were between those of K. pneumoniae 342 and E. coli K-12. All Salmonella bacteria colonized the interiors of the seedlings in high numbers with an inoculum of 10² CFU, although infection characteristics were different for each strain. For most strains, a strong correlation between endophytic colonization and rhizosphere colonization was observed. These results show significant strain specificity for plant entry by these strains. Significant colonization of lateral root cracks was observed, suggesting that this may be the site of entry into the plant for these bacteria. At low inoculum levels, a symbiosis mutant of Medicago truncatula, dmi1, was colonized in higher numbers on the rhizosphere and in the interior by a Salmonella endophyte than was the wild-type host. Endophytic entry of M. truncatula appears to occur by a mechanism independent of the symbiotic infections by Sinorhizobium meliloti or mycorrhizal fungi.     

Livestock-Associated Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (LA-MRSA) Isolates of Swine Origin Form Robust Biofilms

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) colonization of livestock animals is common and prevalence rates for pigs have been reported to be as high as 49%. Mechanisms contributing to the persistent carriage and high prevalence rates of livestock-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (LA-MRSA) strains in swine herds and production facilities have not been investigated. One explanation for the high prevalence of MRSA in swine herds is the ability of these organisms to exist as biofilms. In this report, the ability of swine LA-MRSA strains, including ST398, ST9, and ST5, to form biofilms was quantified and compared to several swine and human isolates. The contribution of known biofilm matrix components, polysaccharides, proteins and extracellular DNA (eDNA), was tested in all strains as well. All MRSA swine isolates formed robust biofilms similar to human clinical isolates. The addition of Dispersin B had no inhibitory effect on swine MRSA isolates when added at the initiation of biofilm growth or after pre-established mature biofilms formed. In contrast, the addition of proteinase K inhibited biofilm formation in all strains when added at the initiation of biofilm growth and was able to disperse pre-established mature biofilms. Of the LA-MRSA strains tested, we found ST398 strains to be the most sensitive to both inhibition of biofilm formation and dispersal of pre-formed biofilms by DNaseI. Collectively, these findings provide a critical first step in designing strategies to control or eliminate MRSA in swine herds.     

Effects of bacteriophages on biofilm formation by strains of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pseudomonas aeruginosa</Emphasis>

The effects of two Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteriophages, vB-Pa 4 and vB-Pa 5, on the formation and development of biofilms of six polyresistant hospital strains of P. aeruginosa have been investigated. Pretreatment of bacteriophages prevented the formation or almost completely prevented the growth of adequate biofilms. The biofilms that had already formed were partially or completely destroyed after phage treatment. The results demonstrate the prospects of using isolated bacteriophages of P. aeruginosa to destroy biofilms and prevent their formation.     

Alkaloids Modulate Motility,Biofilm Formation and Antibiotic Susceptibility of Uropathogenic Escherichia coli

Alkaloid-containing natural compounds have shown promise in the treatment of microbial infections. However, practical application of many of these compounds is pending a mechanistic understanding of their mode of action. We investigated the effect of two alkaloids, piperine (found in black pepper) and reserpine (found in Indian snakeroot), on the ability of the uropathogenic bacterium Escherichia coli CFT073 to colonize abiotic surfaces. Sub-inhibitory concentrations of both compounds (0.5 to 10 µg/mL) decreased bacterial swarming and swimming motilities and increased biofilm formation. qRT-PCR revealed a decrease in the expression of the flagellar gene (fliC) and motility genes (motA and motB) along with an increased expression of adhesin genes (fimA, papA, uvrY). Interestingly, piperine increased penetration of the antibiotics ciprofloxacin and azithromycin into E. coli CFT073 biofilms and consequently enhanced the ability of these antibiotics to disperse pre-established biofilms. The findings suggest that these alkaloids can potentially affect bacterial colonization by hampering bacterial motility and may aid in the treatment of infection by increasing antibiotic penetration in biofilms.     

A phospholipase B from Pseudomonas aeruginosa with activity towards endogenous phospholipids affects biofilm assembly

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a severe threat to immunocompromised patients due to its numerous virulence factors and biofilm-mediated multidrug resistance. It produces and secretes various toxins with hydrolytic activities including phospholipases. However, the function of intracellular phospholipases for bacterial virulence has still not been established. Here, we demonstrate that the hypothetical gene pa2927 of P. aeruginosa encodes a novel phospholipase B named PaPlaB. At reaction equilibrium, PaPlaB purified from detergent-solubilized membranes of E. coli released fatty acids (FAs) from sn-1 and sn-2 positions of phospholipids at the molar ratio of 51:49. PaPlaB in vitro hydrolyzed P. aeruginosa phospholipids reconstituted in detergent micelles and phospholipids reconstituted in vesicles. Cellular localization studies indicate that PaPlaB is a cell-bound PLA of P. aeruginosa and that it is peripherally bound to both membranes in E. coli, yet the active form was predominantly associated with the cytoplasmic membrane of E. coli. Decreasing the concentration of purified and detergent-stabilized PaPlaB leads to increased enzymatic activity, and at the same time triggers oligomer dissociation. We showed that the free FA profile, biofilm amount and architecture of the wild type and ΔplaB differ. However, it remains to be established how the PLB activity of PaPlaB is regulated by homooligomerisation and how it relates to the phenotype of the P. aeruginosa ΔplaB. This novel putative virulence factor contributes to our understanding of phospholipid degrading enzymes and might provide a target for new therapeutics against P. aeruginosa biofilms.     

Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Achromobacter sp. Clonal Selection Leads to Successive Waves of Contamination of Water in Dental Care Units

Dental care unit waterlines (DCUWs) consist of complex networks of thin tubes that facilitate the formation of microbial biofilms. Due to the predilection toward a wet environment, strong adhesion, biofilm formation, and resistance to biocides, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a major human opportunistic pathogen, is adapted to DCUW colonization. Other nonfermentative Gram-negative bacilli, such as members of the genus Achromobacter, are emerging pathogens found in water networks. We reported the 6.5-year dynamics of bacterial contamination of waterlines in a dental health care center with 61 dental care units (DCUs) connected to the same water supply system. The conditions allowed the selection and the emergence of clones of Achromobacter sp. and P. aeruginosa characterized by multilocus sequence typing, multiplex repetitive elements-based PCR, and restriction fragment length polymorphism in pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, biofilm formation, and antimicrobial susceptibility. One clone of P. aeruginosa and 2 clones of Achromobacter sp. colonized successively all of the DCUWs: the last colonization by P. aeruginosa ST309 led to the closing of the dental care center. Successive dominance of species and clones was linked to biocide treatments. Achromobacter strains were weak biofilm producers compared to P. aeruginosa ST309, but the coculture of P. aeruginosa and Achromobacter enhanced P. aeruginosa ST309 biofilm formation. Intraclonal genomic microevolution was observed in the isolates of P. aeruginosa ST309 collected chronologically and in Achromobacter sp. clone A. The contamination control was achieved by a complete reorganization of the dental health care center by removing the connecting tubes between DCUs.     

Enhanced Surface Colonization by Escherichia coli O157:H7 in Biofilms Formed by an Acinetobacter calcoaceticus Isolate from Meat-Processing Environments

A meat factory commensal bacterium, Acinetobacter calcoaceticus, affected the spatial distribution of Escherichia coli O157:H7 surface colonization. The biovolume of E. coli O157:H7 was 400-fold higher (1.2 × 10⁶ μm³) in a dynamic cocultured biofilm than in a monoculture (3.0 × 10³ μm³), and E. coli O157:H7 colonized spaces between A. calcoaceticus cell clusters.Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) is a food-borne human pathogen responsible for severe gastrointestinal disease (16, 17). Processing, handling, and preparation of food may lead to cross-contamination of food and uncontaminated surface areas of the food chain with pathogens from contaminated surfaces (8). Though most processing plants ensure and maintain good manufacturing practices with elaborated sanitary operations, persisting microorganisms may survive well after cleaning and disinfection procedures (1, 9, 12-14), possibly in the form of biofilms (11). A review of the underlying problems caused by biofilms in the food industry was presented by Carpentier and Cerf (4). Several studies have shown that E. coli, including STEC strains, has the capacity to attach to and form biofilms on various surface materials (5, 18). However, such studies have mainly used monocultures without considering the possible influence of resident organisms from food-processing environments on the surface colonization of E. coli. One recent study showed that resident microflora increased E. coli O157:H7 colonization on solid surfaces under static conditions (10). To our knowledge, no studies have investigated the influence of meat industry resident bacteria on surface colonization by E. coli under dynamic-flow conditions.The aim of this study was to investigate how a biofilm-forming isolate of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus influences surface colonization by E. coli O157:H7. This study focused on the spatial distribution of cells during biofilm formation under static and dynamic growth conditions.Here we used an A. calcoaceticus strain (MF3627) isolated from a clean and disinfected meat-processing environment, as well as Shiga toxin-negative E. coli O157:H7 (ATCC 43888) harboring the plasmid pGFP-uv (Clontech Laboratories, Palo Alto, CA). For static growth conditions, mono- and coculture biofilms were harvested at 25°C in Lab-Tek II chamber slide systems (VWR, Oslo, Norway) consisting of miniature polystyrene medium chambers with a sealed cover glass as the growth surface. For dynamic growth conditions, mono- and coculture biofilms were grown at 25°C in three-channel flow cells with individual channel dimensions of 1 by 4 by 40 mm and a sealed glass coverslip substratum (Knittel Glass, Germany). A 1/10 dilution of Luria-Bertani broth was continuously pumped through the sterile flow cell channels at a rate of 0.5 ml/min. In two of the channels, A. calcoaceticus and E. coli were inoculated individually, while the third channel was reserved for the inoculation of a mixed culture of A. calcoaceticus and E. coli (1:1). The flow cell channels and Lab-Tek chambers were stained with SYTO 61. Horizontal-plane images of the biofilms were acquired using a Leica SP5 AOBS laser scanning confocal microscope (Leica Microsystems, Lysaker, Norway). Three independent biofilm experiments were performed for each biofilm growth condition. Three-dimensional projections were performed with IMARIS software (Bitplane, Zürich, Switzerland). The structural quantification of biofilms (biovolume in cubic micrometers) was performed using the PHLIP Matlab program (http://www.phlip.org/phlip-ml/).Under static growth conditions, E. coli O157:H7 formed a homogeneous flat biofilm yielding biovolumes ranging between 3.3 × 10⁵ and 5.4 × 10⁵ μm³ after 24 and 72 h of biofilm growth. Although the E. coli biovolume revealed no significant differences in monoculture or when cocultured with A. calcoaceticus, microscopic analysis revealed how E. coli cells were gradually covered by a carpet of A. calcoaceticus cells after 72 h of biofilm growth (for visualization, see the supplemental material). A. calcoaceticus monospecies biofilms were heterogeneous, highly structured, and channeled under both static and dynamic conditions (Fig. ​(Fig.11 A), yielding a biovolume of 1.46 × 10⁶ μm³ after 72 h of biofilm growth (Fig. ​(Fig.2).2). E. coli O157:H7 did not form monospecies biofilms under dynamic-flow conditions (Fig. ​(Fig.1A),1A), with biovolume values below 3.5 × 10⁴ μm³ after 72 h (Fig. ​(Fig.2).2). The presence of A. calcoaceticus had a significant impact on E. coli O157:H7 surface colonization with a 400-fold increase in the total biovolume of E. coli O157:H7 from 3.0 × 10³ μm³ to 1.2 × 10⁶ μm³ between 24 and 48 h (Fig. ​(Fig.2),2), as observed from the increase in E. coli O157:H7 biomass between A. calcoaceticus cell clusters (Fig. 1A and B). After 72 h of development, E. coli O157:H7 cell clusters were partially covered by A. calcoaceticus cells. The poor settlement and subsequent poor colonization of E. coli O157:H7 under dynamic-flow conditions could have been attributed to shear forces, which made it difficult for E. coli O157:H7 cells to establish colonies on the substratum. The observed spatial distribution of A. calcoaceticus cells at the liquid-biofilm interface may offer E. coli O157:H7 cells better protection from shear stress and could potentially provide additional protection against disinfectants, as has been observed in other multispecies biofilm studies (2, 21). Whether E. coli cells had increased resistance to antimicrobial agents in our experimental setup as a result of being at the bottom layers of mixed-species biofilms will be the subject of further investigations. Biofilm formation of meat industry surface bacteria can enhance E. coli surface colonization and thereby increase the risk of persistence of and food contamination by potential pathogens. The occurrence of Acinetobacter in food-processing environments is well documented (1, 9, 15), and it has also been isolated from spoiled food products (3, 6, 7). Furthermore, a recent study showed that A. calcoaceticus biofilms are able to interact and coaggregate with other bacteria (19). Cleaning and disinfection procedures used in food industries should thus take into account the risks involved in ignoring the presence of resident flora biofilms.Open in a separate windowFIG. 1.Structural development of A. calcoaceticus and E. coli in mono- and dual-species biofilms under dynamic conditions. (A) Representative biofilms of A. calcoaceticus and pGFP-uv-tagged E. coli O157:H7 grown in flow cells using Luria-Bertani broth as a growth medium at 25°C. The spatial structures in the developing biofilms were studied by laser scanning confocal microscopy. (B) Vertical sections (in the x-z plane) representing the spatial distribution of pGFP-uv-tagged E. coli O157:H7 in the presence of A. calcoaceticus under dynamic-flow conditions after 24, 48, and 72 h of growth. The lower side of each section corresponds to the substratum. Green cells represent pGFP-uv-tagged E. coli O157:H7, red cells represent SYTO 61-stained A. calcoaceticus cells, and yellow cells represent GFP-tagged E. coli O157:H7 marked with SYTO 61.Open in a separate windowFIG. 2.Biovolume of A. calcoaceticus and E. coli O157:H7 biofilm development after 24, 48, and 72 h of growth under dynamic conditions. A. calcoaceticus in monospecies biofilms is represented by the symbol □, A. calcoaceticus in dual-species biofilms is represented by the symbol ▪, E. coli O157:H7 in mono-species biofilms is represented by the symbol Δ, and E. coli O157:H7 in dual-species biofilms is represented by the symbol ▴. Mean values of at least 30 individual images ± the standard errors from three independent experiments are shown.Cleaning and disinfection procedures are employed by the food industry to ensure clean and hygienic surfaces for food production. However, due to the ubiquitous nature of biofilms and their potential to resist antimicrobial treatments (21), new strategies based on preventive actions to reduce the incidence of biofilm formation on food-processing surfaces should be employed (20). In light of the results obtained in this study, combining curative actions with preventive actions based on the use of surface materials with antiadhesive or antifouling surfaces could enhance the hygienic standards of food-processing surfaces.In conclusion, we have shown that under both static and dynamic growth conditions, E. coli cells were found embedded and covered by A. calcoaceticus cells in mixed-species biofilms. Moreover, the presence of an A. calcoaceticus biofilm structure favored E. coli O157:H7 colonization and biofilm formation under dynamic-flow conditions. These results offer new insights into the spatial distribution of pathogenic bacteria and resident flora during cocultured biofilm formation. Conditions allowing active biofilm formation of resident microflora may provide increased opportunities for pathogens to thrive in food-processing environments. The hazardous influences of resident biofilms should therefore not be ignored, since improper cleaning procedures in food-processing environments could potentially increase the risk of food contamination by spoilage and pathogenic bacteria.      

Rectal Administration of Escherichia coli O157:H7: Novel Model for Colonization of Ruminants

Escherichia coli O157:H7 causes hemorrhagic colitis and life-threatening complications. Because healthy cattle are reservoirs for the bacterium, ruminant infection models have applications in analyzing the relationship between cattle and this human pathogen and in testing interventions to reduce or prevent bovine colonization with this bacterium. Current approaches often do not reliably mimic natural, long-term bovine colonization with E. coli O157:H7 in older calves and adult animals (ages that enter our food chain). Based on the recent identification of the bovine rectoanal junction mucosa as a site of E. coli O157:H7 colonization, we developed a novel rectal swab administration colonization model. We compared this method with oral dosing and direct contact transmission (Trojan) methods. E. coli O157:H7 carriage status was determined by fecal or rectoanal mucosa swab culture. High (~10¹⁰ CFU) and low (~10⁷ CFU) oral doses of E. coli O157:H7 in sheep and cattle resulted in variable infection with the bacterium. Some animals became colonized with the bacteria and remained culture positive for several weeks, and some animals did not become colonized and rapidly cleared the bacteria in a few days. Pen mates of E. coli O157:H7 culture-positive Trojan cattle had a low infection rate and variable colonization status. However, rectal swab administration of E. coli O157:H7 to cattle resulted in consistent long-term colonization in all animals. The surprising ease with which long-term infections resulted from a single application of bacteria to the rectoanal mucosa also strongly supported this location as a site of E. coli O157:H7 colonization in cattle.     

Role of the flagellar hook in the structural development and antibiotic tolerance of Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms

Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms exhibit an intrinsic resistance to antibiotics and constitute a considerable clinical threat. In cystic fibrosis, a common feature of biofilms formed by P. aeruginosa in the airway is the occurrence of mutants deficient in flagellar motility. This study investigates the impact of flagellum deletion on the structure and antibiotic tolerance of P. aeruginosa biofilms, and highlights a role for the flagellum in adaptation and cell survival during biofilm development. Mutations in the flagellar hook protein FlgE influence greatly P. aeruginosa biofilm structuring and antibiotic tolerance. Phenotypic analysis of the flgE knockout mutant compared to the wild type (WT) reveal increased fitness under planktonic conditions, reduced initial adhesion but enhanced formation of microcolony aggregates in a microfluidic environment, and decreased expression of genes involved in exopolysaccharide formation. Biofilm cells of the flgE knock-out mutant display enhanced tolerance towards multiple antibiotics, whereas its planktonic cells show similar resistance to the WT. Confocal microscopy of biofilms demonstrates that gentamicin does not affect the viability of cells located in the inner part of the flgE knock-out mutant biofilms due to reduced penetration. These findings suggest that deficiency in flagellar proteins like FlgE in biofilms and in cystic fibrosis infections represent phenotypic and evolutionary adaptations that alter the structure of P. aeruginosa biofilms conferring increased antibiotic tolerance.Subject terms: Microbiology, Diseases     

Constructing multispecies biofilms with defined compositions by sequential deposition of bacteria

Rationally-assembled multispecies biofilms could benefit applied processes including mixed waste biodegradation and drug biosynthesis by combining complementary metabolic pathways into single functional communities. We hypothesized that the cellular composition of mature multispecies biofilms could be manipulated by controlling the number of each cell type present on newly colonized surfaces. To test this idea, we developed a method for attaching specific numbers of bacteria to a flow cell by recirculating cell suspensions. Initial work revealed a nonlinear relationship between suspension cell density and areal density when two strains of Escherichia coli were simultaneously recirculated; in contrast, sequential recirculation resulted in a predictable deposition of cell numbers. Quantitative analysis of cell distributions in 48-h biofilms comprised of the E. coli strains demonstrated a strong relationship between their distribution at the substratum and their presence in mature biofilms. Sequentially depositing E. coli with either Pseudomonas aeruginosa or Bacillus subtilis determined small but reproducible differences in the areal density of the second microorganism recirculated relative to its areal density when recirculated alone. Overall, the presented method offers a simple and reproducible way to construct multispecies biofilms with defined compositions for biocatalytic processes.     

Construction of two ureolytic model organisms for the study of microbially induced calcium carbonate precipitation

Two bacterial strains, Pseudomonas aeruginosa MJK1 and Escherichia coli MJK2, were constructed that both express green fluorescent protein (GFP) and carry out ureolysis. These two novel model organisms are useful for studying bacterial carbonate mineral precipitation processes and specifically ureolysis-driven microbially induced calcium carbonate precipitation (MICP). The strains were constructed by adding plasmid-borne urease genes (ureABC, ureD and ureFG) to the strains P. aeruginosa AH298 and E. coli AF504gfp, both of which already carried unstable GFP derivatives. The ureolytic activities of the two new strains were compared to the common, non-GFP expressing, model organism Sporosarcina pasteurii in planktonic culture under standard laboratory growth conditions. It was found that the engineered strains exhibited a lower ureolysis rate per cell but were able to grow faster and to a higher population density under the conditions of this study. Both engineered strains were successfully grown as biofilms in capillary flow cell reactors and ureolysis-induced calcium carbonate mineral precipitation was observed microscopically. The undisturbed spatiotemporal distribution of biomass and calcium carbonate minerals were successfully resolved in 3D using confocal laser scanning microscopy. Observations of this nature were not possible previously because no obligate urease producer that expresses GFP had been available. Future observations using these organisms will allow researchers to further improve engineered application of MICP as well as study natural mineralization processes in model systems.     

Identification of aryl 2-aminoimidazoles as biofilm inhibitors in Gram-negative bacteria

The synthesis and biofilm inhibitory activity of a 30-member aryl amide 2-aminoimidazole library against the three biofilm forming Gram-negative bacteria Escherichia coli, Psuedomonas aeruginosa, and Acinetobacter baumannii is presented. The most active compound identified inhibits the formation of E. coli biofilms with an IC₅₀ of 5.2 μM and was observed to be non-toxic to planktonic growth, demonstrating that analogues based on an aryl framework are viable options as biofilm inhibitors within the 2-aminoimidazole family.     

Quantitative Analysis of Amyloid-Integrated Biofilms Formed by Uropathogenic Escherichia coli at the Air-Liquid Interface

Bacterial biofilms are complex multicellular assemblies, characterized by a heterogeneous extracellular polymeric matrix, that have emerged as hallmarks of persistent infectious diseases. New approaches and quantitative data are needed to elucidate the composition and architecture of biofilms, and such data need to be correlated with mechanical and physicochemical properties that relate to function. We performed a panel of interfacial rheological measurements during biofilm formation at the air-liquid interface by the Escherichia coli strain UTI89, which is noted for its importance in studies of urinary tract infection and for its assembly of functional amyloid fibers termed curli. Brewster-angle microscopy and measurements of the surface elasticity (G_s′) and stress-strain response provided sensitive and quantitative parameters that revealed distinct stages during bacterial colonization, aggregation, and eventual formation of a pellicle at the air-liquid interface. Pellicles that formed under conditions that upregulate curli production exhibited an increase in strength and viscoelastic properties as well as a greater ability to recover from stress-strain perturbation. The results suggest that curli, as hydrophobic extracellular amyloid fibers, enhance the strength, viscoelasticity, and resistance to strain of E. coli biofilms formed at the air-liquid interface.