1887

Abstract

Staphylococcal biofilm formation depends on the transcription factor . We further investigated the role of in biofilm formation and persistence and in a subcutaneous rat model. As expected, expression of all operon genes was transiently higher in the first 6 h of biofilm formation compared to planktonic bacteria, concurrent with a temporary upregulation of and expression. However, we also observed a second upregulation of expression in biofilm more than 2 days old without upregulation of or . Biofilm formation by strains 8400 and 1457 was compared to that of isogenic mutants with inactivation of , of and of the entire operon. Both wild-type strains and the constitutively expressing mutant showed a strong biofilm-positive phenotype. The mutant biofilm was, however, thinner and more evenly spread than the wild-type biofilm. Inactivation of SigB in the mutant or mutation of the positive regulator RsbU reduced both the number of sessile bacteria and polysaccharide intercellular adhesin (PIA) synthesis. These differences between the wild-types and their respective mutants appeared after 6 h in biofilms but only after 4 days in biofilms. Our results provide additional evidence for a role for in biofilm formation. They also suggest a role for in biofilm maturation and stability that is independent of PIA or accumulation-associated protein (Aap) and point to significant differences in the temporal development between and biofilms.

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2008-09-01
2024-03-28
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