Alginate acetylation influences initial surface colonization by mucoid Pseudomonas aeruginosa |
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Authors: | Tielen Petra Strathmann Martin Jaeger Karl-Erich Flemming Hans-Curt Wingender Jost |
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Institution: | Department of Aquatic Microbiology, Biofilm Centre, University of Duisburg-Essen, Geibelstrasse 41, 47057 Duisburg, Germany. |
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Abstract: | Mucoid strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa overproduce the exopolysaccharide alginate, which is substituted with O-acetyl groups. Under non-growing conditions in phosphate buffer, a mucoid clinical strain formed microcolonies on steel surfaces, while an acetylation-defective mutant was unable to form cell clusters. Enzymatic degradation of alginate by alginate lyase prevented microcolony formation of the mucoid parent strain. In a continuous-culture flow-cell system, using gluconate minimal medium, the mucoid strain with acetylated alginate formed microcolonies and grew into heterogenous biofilms, whereas the acetylation-defective mutant produced a thinner and more homogeneous biofilm. A lowered viscosity of extracellular material from the acetylation-defective mutant indicated a weakening of exopolymer interactions by loss of acetyl groups. These results suggest that acetyl substituents are necessary for the function of high-molecular-mass alginate to mediate cell aggregation into microcolonies in the early stages of biofilm development by mucoid P. aeruginosa, thereby determining the architecture of the mature biofilm. |
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Keywords: | Pseudomonas aeruginosa Alginate Acetylation Adhesion Biofilm |
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