Dispersed cells represent a distinct stage in the transition from bacterial biofilm to planktonic lifestyles

Song Lin Chua, Yang Liu, Joey Kuok Hoong Yam, Yicai Chen, Rebecca Munk Vejborg, Bryan Giin Chyuan Tan, Staffan Kjelleberg, Tim Tolker-Nielsen, Michael Givskov, Liang Yang

    159 Citationer (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Bacteria assume distinct lifestyles during the planktonic and biofilm modes of growth. Increased levels of the intracellular messenger c-di-GMP determine the transition from planktonic to biofilm growth, while a reduction causes biofilm dispersal. It is generally assumed that cells dispersed from biofilms immediately go into the planktonic growth phase. Here we use single-nucleotide resolution transcriptomic analysis to show that the physiology of dispersed cells from Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms is highly different from those of planktonic and biofilm cells. In dispersed cells, the expression of the small regulatory RNAs RsmY and RsmZ is downregulated, whereas secretion genes are induced. Dispersed cells are highly virulent against macrophages and Caenorhabditis elegans compared with planktonic cells. In addition, they are highly sensitive towards iron stress, and the combination of a biofilm-dispersing agent, an iron chelator and tobramycin efficiently reduces the survival of the dispersed cells.

    OriginalsprogEngelsk
    Artikelnummer4462
    TidsskriftNature Communications
    Vol/bind5
    Sider (fra-til)1-12
    Antal sider13
    ISSN2041-1723
    DOI
    StatusUdgivet - 21 jul. 2014

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