The rbmBCDEF gene cluster modulates development of rugose colony morphology and biofilm formation in Vibrio cholerae

Identification of a novel matrix protein that promotes biofilm maturation in Vibrio fischeri

Bacteria form communities, termed biofilms, in which cells adhere to each other within a matrix, typically comprised of polysaccharides, proteins, and extracellular DNA. Biofilm formation by the marine bacterium Vibrio fischeri requires the Syp polysaccharide, but the involvement of matrix proteins is as yet unknown. Here we identified three genes, termed bmpA, -B, and -C (biofilm maturation protein), with overlapping functions in biofilm maturation. A triple bmpABC mutant, but not single or double mutants, was defective in producing wrinkled colonies, a form of biofilm. Surprisingly, the triple mutant was competent to form pellicles, another biofilm phenotype, but they generally lacked a three-dimensional architecture. Transmission electron microscopy revealed that the extracellular matrix of the bmp mutant contained electron-dense, thread-like structures that were also present in the wild type but lacking in syp mutant strains. We hypothesized that the bmp mutant produces the Syp polysaccharide but fails to produce/export a distinct matrix component. Indeed, a mixture of the bmp and syp mutants produced a wrinkled colony. Finally, BmpA could be detected in cell-free supernatants from disrupted pellicles. Thus, this work identifies a new matrix protein necessary for biofilm maturation by V. fischeri and, based on the conservation of bmp, potentially other microbes.

The Type II secretion system delivers matrix proteins for biofilm formation by Vibrio cholerae

Gram-negative bacteria have evolved several highly dedicated pathways for extracellular protein secretion, including the type II secretion (T2S) system. Since substrates secreted via the T2S system include both virulence factors and degradative enzymes, this secretion system is considered a major survival mechanism for pathogenic and environmental species. Previous analyses revealed that the T2S system mediates the export of ≥ 20 proteins in Vibrio cholerae, a human pathogen that is indigenous to the marine environment. Here we demonstrate a new role in biofilm formation for the V. cholerae T2S system, since wild-type V. cholerae was found to secrete the biofilm matrix proteins RbmC, RbmA, and Bap1 into the culture supernatant, while an isogenic T2S mutant could not. In agreement with this finding, the level of biofilm formation in a static microtiter assay was diminished in T2S mutants. Moreover, inactivation of the T2S system in a rugose V. cholerae strain prevented the development of colony corrugation and pellicle formation at the air-liquid interface. In contrast, extracellular secretion of the exopolysaccharide VPS, an essential component of the biofilm matrix, remained unaffected in the T2S mutants. Our results indicate that the T2S system provides a mechanism for the delivery of extracellular matrix proteins known to be important for biofilm formation by V. cholerae. Because the T2S system contributes to the pathogenicity of V. cholerae by secreting proteins such as cholera toxin and biofilm matrix proteins, elucidation of the molecular mechanism of T2S has the potential to lead to the development of novel preventions and therapies.

Identification of capsule, biofilm, lateral flagellum, and type IV pili in Vibrio mimicus strains

Vibrio mimicus is a bacterium that causes gastroenteritis; it is closely related to Vibrio cholerae, and can cause acute diarrhea like cholera- or dysentery-type diarrhea. It is distributed worldwide. Factors associated with virulence (such as hemolysins, enterotoxins, proteases, phospholipases, aerobactin, and hemagglutinin) have been identified; however, its pathogenicity mechanism is still unknown. In pathogenic Vibrio species such as V. cholerae, Vibrio. parahaemolyticus and Vibrio vulnificus, capsule, biofilms, lateral flagellum, and type IV pili are structures described as essential for pathogenicity. These structures had not been described in V. mimicus until this work. We used 20 V. mimicus strains isolated from water (6), oyster (9), and fish (5) samples and we were able to identify the capsule, biofilm, lateral flagellum, and type IV pili through phenotypic tests, electron microscopy, PCR, and sequencing. In all tested strains, we observed and identified the presence of capsular exopolysaccharide, biofilm formation in an in vitro model, as well as swarming, multiple flagellation, and pili. In addition, we identified homologous genes to those described in other bacteria of the genus in which these structures have been found. Identification of these structures in V. mimicus is a contribution to the biology of this organism and can help to reveal its pathogenic behavior.

Vibrio cholerae utilizes direct sRNA regulation in expression of a biofilm matrix protein

Vibrio cholerae biofilms contain exopolysaccharide and three matrix proteins RbmA, RbmC and Bap1. While much is known about exopolysaccharide regulation, little is known about the mechanisms by which the matrix protein components of biofilms are regulated. VrrA is a conserved, 140-nt sRNA of V. cholerae, whose expression is controlled by sigma factor σ^E. In this study, we demonstrate that VrrA negatively regulates rbmC translation by pairing to the 5′ untranslated region of the rbmC transcript and that this regulation is not stringently dependent on the RNA chaperone protein Hfq. These results point to VrrA as a molecular link between the σ^E-regulon and biofilm formation in V. cholerae. In addition, VrrA represents the first example of direct regulation of sRNA on biofilm matrix component, by-passing global master regulators.

Identification of genes induced in Vibrio cholerae in a dynamic biofilm system

The facultative human pathogen Vibrio cholerae, the causative agent of the severe secretory diarrheal disease cholera, persists in its aquatic reservoirs in biofilms during interepidemic periods. Biofilm is a likely form in which clinically relevant V. cholerae is taken up by humans, providing an infective dose. Thus, a better understanding of biofilm formation of V. cholerae is relevant for the ecology and epidemiology of cholera as well as a target to control the disease. Most previous studies have investigated static biofilms of V. cholerae and elucidated structural prerequisites like flagella, pili and a biofilm matrix including extracellular DNA, numerous matrix proteins and exopolysaccharide, as well as the involvement of regulatory pathways like two-component systems, quorum sensing and c-di-GMP signaling. However, aquatic environments are more likely to reflect an open, dynamic system. Hence, we used a biofilm system with constant medium flow and a temporal controlled reporter-system of transcription to identify genes induced during dynamic biofilm formation. We identified genes known or predicted to be involved in c-di-GMP signaling, motility and chemotaxis, metabolism, and transport. Subsequent phenotypic characterization of mutants with independent mutations in candidate dynamic biofilm-induced genes revealed novel insights into the physiology of static and dynamic biofilm conditions. The results of this study also reinforce the hypotheses that distinct differences in regulatory mechanisms governing biofilm development are present under dynamic conditions compared to static conditions.

Stress responses go three dimensional - the spatial order of physiological differentiation in bacterial macrocolony biofilms

In natural habitats, bacteria often occur in multicellular communities characterized by a robust extracellular matrix of proteins, amyloid fibres, exopolysaccharides and extracellular DNA. These biofilms show pronounced stress resistance including a resilience against antibiotics that causes serious medical and technical problems. This review summarizes recent studies that have revealed clear spatial physiological differentiation, complex supracellular architecture and striking morphology in macrocolony biofilms. By responding to gradients of nutrients, oxygen, waste products and signalling compounds that build up in growing biofilms, various stress responses determine whether bacteria grow and proliferate or whether they enter into stationary phase and use their remaining resources for maintenance and survival. As a consequence, biofilms differentiate into at least two distinct layers of vegetatively growing and stationary phase cells that exhibit very different cellular physiology. This includes a stratification of matrix production with a major impact on microscopic architecture, biophysical properties and directly visible morphology of macrocolony biofilms. Using Escherichia coli as a model system, this review also describes our detailed current knowledge about the underlying molecular control networks – prominently featuring sigma factors, transcriptional cascades and second messengers – that drive this spatial differentiation and points out directions for future research.

Proteomic analysis of Vibrio cholerae outer membrane vesicles

Outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) produced by Gram-negative bacteria provide an interesting research material for defining cell-envelope proteins without experimental cell disruption. OMVs are also promising immunogenic platforms and may play important roles in bacterial survival and pathogenesis. We used in-solution trypsin digestion coupled to mass spectrometry to identify 90 proteins present in OMVs of Vibrio cholerae when grown under conditions that activate the TCP pilus virulence regulatory protein (ToxT) virulence regulon. The ToxT expression profile and potential contribution to virulence of these proteins were assessed using ToxT and in vivo RNA-seq, Tn-seq, and cholera stool proteomic and other genome-wide data sets. Thirteen OMV-associated proteins appear to be essential for cell growth, and therefore may represent antibacterial drug targets. Another 12 nonessential OMV proteins, including DegP protease, were required for intestinal colonization in rabbits. Comparative proteomics of a degP mutant revealed the importance of DegP in the incorporation of nine proteins into OMVs, including ones involved in biofilm matrix formation and various substrates of the type II secretion system. Taken together, these results suggest that DegP plays an important role in determining the content of OMVs and also affects phenotypes such as intestinal colonization, proper function of the type II secretion system, and formation of biofilm matrix.

Mechanisms of post-transcriptional gene regulation in bacterial biofilms

Biofilms are characterized by a dense multicellular community of microorganisms that can be formed by the attachment of bacteria to an inert surface and to each other. The development of biofilm involves the initial attachment of planktonic bacteria to a surface, followed by replication, cell-to-cell adhesion to form microcolonies, maturation, and detachment. Mature biofilms are embedded in a self-produced extracellular polymeric matrix composed primarily of bacterial-derived exopolysaccharides, specialized proteins, adhesins, and occasionally DNA. Because the synthesis and assembly of biofilm matrix components is an exceptionally complex process, the transition between its different phases requires the coordinate expression and simultaneous regulation of many genes by complex genetic networks involving all levels of gene regulation. The finely controlled intracellular level of the chemical second messenger molecule, cyclic-di-GMP is central to the post-transcriptional mechanisms governing the switch between the motile planktonic lifestyle and the sessile biofilm forming state in many bacteria. Several other post-transcriptional regulatory mechanisms are known to dictate biofilm development and assembly and these include RNA-binding proteins, small non-coding RNAs, toxin-antitoxin systems, riboswitches, and RNases. Post-transcriptional regulation is therefore a powerful molecular mechanism employed by bacteria to rapidly adjust to the changing environment and to fine tune gene expression to the developmental needs of the cell. In this review, we discuss post-transcriptional mechanisms that influence the biofilm developmental cycle in a variety of pathogenic bacteria.

Environmental reservoirs and mechanisms of persistence of Vibrio cholerae

It is now well accepted that Vibrio cholerae, the causative agent of the water-borne disease cholera, is acquired from environmental sources where it persists between outbreaks of the disease. Recent advances in molecular technology have demonstrated that this bacterium can be detected in areas where it has not previously been isolated, indicating a much broader, global distribution of this bacterium outside of endemic regions. The environmental persistence of V. cholerae in the aquatic environment can be attributed to multiple intra- and interspecific strategies such as responsive gene regulation and biofilm formation on biotic and abiotic surfaces, as well as interactions with a multitude of other organisms. This review will discuss some of the mechanisms that enable the persistence of this bacterium in the environment. In particular, we will discuss how V. cholerae can survive stressors such as starvation, temperature, and salinity fluctuations as well as how the organism persists under constant predation by heterotrophic protists.

Cyclic di-GMP: the first 25 years of a universal bacterial second messenger

Twenty-five years have passed since the discovery of cyclic dimeric (3'→5') GMP (cyclic di-GMP or c-di-GMP). From the relative obscurity of an allosteric activator of a bacterial cellulose synthase, c-di-GMP has emerged as one of the most common and important bacterial second messengers. Cyclic di-GMP has been shown to regulate biofilm formation, motility, virulence, the cell cycle, differentiation, and other processes. Most c-di-GMP-dependent signaling pathways control the ability of bacteria to interact with abiotic surfaces or with other bacterial and eukaryotic cells. Cyclic di-GMP plays key roles in lifestyle changes of many bacteria, including transition from the motile to the sessile state, which aids in the establishment of multicellular biofilm communities, and from the virulent state in acute infections to the less virulent but more resilient state characteristic of chronic infectious diseases. From a practical standpoint, modulating c-di-GMP signaling pathways in bacteria could represent a new way of controlling formation and dispersal of biofilms in medical and industrial settings. Cyclic di-GMP participates in interkingdom signaling. It is recognized by mammalian immune systems as a uniquely bacterial molecule and therefore is considered a promising vaccine adjuvant. The purpose of this review is not to overview the whole body of data in the burgeoning field of c-di-GMP-dependent signaling. Instead, we provide a historic perspective on the development of the field, emphasize common trends, and illustrate them with the best available examples. We also identify unresolved questions and highlight new directions in c-di-GMP research that will give us a deeper understanding of this truly universal bacterial second messenger.

Mannitol and the mannitol-specific enzyme IIB subunit activate Vibrio cholerae biofilm formation

Vibrio cholerae is a halophilic, Gram-negative rod found in marine environments. Strains that produce cholera toxin cause the diarrheal disease cholera. V. cholerae use a highly conserved, multicomponent signal transduction cascade known as the phosphoenolpyruvate phosphotransferase system (PTS) to regulate carbohydrate uptake and biofilm formation. Regulation of biofilm formation by the PTS is complex, involving many different regulatory pathways that incorporate distinct PTS components. The PTS consists of the general components enzyme I (EI) and histidine protein (HPr) and carbohydrate-specific enzymes II. Mannitol transport by V. cholerae requires the mannitol-specific EII (EII(Mtl)), which is expressed only in the presence of mannitol. Here we show that mannitol activates V. cholerae biofilm formation and transcription of the vps biofilm matrix exopolysaccharide synthesis genes. This regulation is dependent on mannitol transport. However, we show that, in the absence of mannitol, ectopic expression of the B subunit of EII(Mtl) is sufficient to activate biofilm accumulation. Mannitol, a common compatible solute and osmoprotectant of marine organisms, is a main photosynthetic product of many algae and is secreted by algal mats. We propose that the ability of V. cholerae to respond to environmental mannitol by forming a biofilm may play an important role in habitat selection.

Structural basis for biofilm formation via the Vibrio cholerae matrix protein RbmA

During the transition from a free-swimming, single-cell lifestyle to a sessile, multicellular state called a biofilm, bacteria produce and secrete an extracellular matrix comprised of nucleic acids, exopolysaccharides, and adhesion proteins. The Vibrio cholerae biofilm matrix contains three major protein components, RbmA, Bap1, and RbmC, which are unique to Vibrio cholerae and appear to support biofilm formation at particular steps in the process. Here, we focus on RbmA, a structural protein with an unknown fold. RbmA participates in the early cell-cell adhesion events and is found throughout the biofilm where it localizes to cell-cell contact sites. We determined crystal structures of RbmA and revealed that the protein folds into tandem fibronectin type III (FnIII) folds. The protein is dimeric in solution and in crystals, with the dimer interface displaying a surface groove that is lined with several positively charged residues. Structure-guided mutagenesis studies establish a crucial role for this surface patch for RbmA function. On the basis of the structure, we hypothesize that RbmA serves as a tether by maintaining flexible linkages between cells and the extracellular matrix.

Regulation of flagellar motility during biofilm formation

Many bacteria swim in liquid or swarm over solid surfaces by synthesizing rotary flagella. The same bacteria that are motile also commonly form nonmotile multicellular aggregates called biofilms. Biofilms are an important part of the lifestyle of pathogenic bacteria, and it is assumed that there is a motility-to-biofilm transition wherein the inhibition of motility promotes biofilm formation. The transition is largely inferred from regulatory mutants that reveal the opposite regulation of the two phenotypes. Here, we review the regulation of motility during biofilm formation in Bacillus, Pseudomonas, Vibrio, and Escherichia, and we conclude that the motility-to-biofilm transition, if necessary, likely involves two steps. In the short term, flagella are functionally regulated to either inhibit rotation or modulate the basal flagellar reversal frequency. Over the long term, flagellar gene transcription is inhibited and in the absence of de novo synthesis, flagella are diluted to extinction through growth. Both short-term and long-term motility inhibition is likely important to stabilize cell aggregates and optimize resource investment. We emphasize the newly discovered flagellar functional regulators and speculate that others await discovery in the context of biofilm formation.

Glucose-specific enzyme IIA has unique binding partners in the vibrio cholerae biofilm

Glucose-specific enzyme IIA (EIIA^Glc) is a central regulator of bacterial metabolism and an intermediate in the phosphoenolpyruvate phosphotransferase system (PTS), a conserved phosphotransfer cascade that controls carbohydrate transport. We previously reported that EIIA^Glc activates transcription of the genes required for Vibrio cholerae biofilm formation. While EIIA^Glc modulates the function of many proteins through a direct interaction, none of the known regulatory binding partners of EIIA^Glc activates biofilm formation. Therefore, we used tandem affinity purification (TAP) to compare binding partners of EIIA^Glc in both planktonic and biofilm cells. A surprising number of novel EIIA^Glc binding partners were identified predominantly under one condition or the other. Studies of planktonic cells revealed established partners of EIIA^Glc, such as adenylate cyclase and glycerol kinase. In biofilms, MshH, a homolog of Escherichia coli CsrD, was found to be a dominant binding partner of EIIA^Glc. Further studies revealed that MshH inhibits biofilm formation. This function was independent of the Carbon storage regulator (Csr) pathway and dependent on EIIA^Glc. To explore the existence of multiprotein complexes centered on EIIA^Glc, we also affinity purified the binding partners of adenylate cyclase from biofilm cells. In addition to EIIA^Glc, this analysis yielded many of the same proteins that copurified with EIIA^Glc. We hypothesize that EIIA^Glc serves as a hub for multiprotein complexes and furthermore that these complexes may provide a mechanism for competitive and cooperative interactions between binding partners.

EIIA^Glc is a global regulator of microbial physiology that acts through direct interactions with other proteins. This work represents the first demonstration that the protein partners of EIIA^Glc are distinct in the microbial biofilm. Furthermore, it provides the first evidence that EIIA^Glc may exist in multiprotein complexes with its partners, setting the stage for an investigation of how the multiple partners of EIIA^Glc influence one another. Last, it provides a connection between the phosphoenolpyruvate phosphotransferase (PTS) and Csr regulatory systems. This work increases our understanding of the complexity of regulation by EIIA^Glc and provides a link between the PTS and Csr networks, two global regulatory cascades that influence microbial physiology.

Molecular architecture and assembly principles of Vibrio cholerae biofilms

In their natural environment, microbes organize into communities held together by an extracellular matrix composed of polysaccharides and proteins. We developed an in vivo labeling strategy to allow the extracellular matrix of developing biofilms to be visualized with conventional and superresolution light microscopy. Vibrio cholerae biofilms displayed three distinct levels of spatial organization: cells, clusters of cells, and collections of clusters. Multiresolution imaging of living V. cholerae biofilms revealed the complementary architectural roles of the four essential matrix constituents: RbmA provided cell-cell adhesion; Bap1 allowed the developing biofilm to adhere to surfaces; and heterogeneous mixtures of Vibrio polysaccharide, RbmC, and Bap1 formed dynamic, flexible, and ordered envelopes that encased the cell clusters.

The bacterial biofilm matrix as a platform for protein delivery

Surface-associated bacterial structures known as biofilms are the target of intense antimicrobial research efforts. We recently identified several secreted proteins that are retained in the bacterial biofilm matrix by their association with the biofilm exopolysaccharide scaffold. Based on our findings, we hypothesized that these problematic bacterial structures might be reengineered to serve as reservoirs for surface-active secreted proteins of biomedical, bioengineering, or biotechnological importance. By piggybacking onto one of these scaffold-associated proteins, we were able to sequester a functional enzyme to the biofilm matrix. We hypothesize that this technology may have diverse applications in vaccine design, digestive disease, and bioremediation.

The transcriptional regulator, CosR, controls compatible solute biosynthesis and transport, motility and biofilm formation in Vibrio cholerae

Vibrio cholerae inhabits aquatic environments and colonizes the human digestive tract to cause the disease cholera. In these environments, V. cholerae copes with fluctuations in salinity and osmolarity by producing and transporting small, organic, highly soluble molecules called compatible solutes, which counteract extracellular osmotic pressure. Currently, it is unclear how V. cholerae regulates the expression of genes important for the biosynthesis or transport of compatible solutes in response to changing salinity or osmolarity conditions. Through a genome-wide transcriptional analysis of the salinity response of V. cholerae, we identified a transcriptional regulator we name CosR for compatible solute regulator. The expression of cosR is regulated by ionic strength and not osmolarity. A transcriptome analysis of a ΔcosR mutant revealed that CosR represses genes involved in ectoine biosynthesis and compatible solute transport in a salinity-dependent manner. When grown in salinities similar to estuarine environments, CosR activates biofilm formation and represses motility independently of its function as an ectoine regulator. This is the first study to characterize a compatible solute regulator in V. cholerae and couples the regulation of osmotic tolerance with biofilm formation and motility.

Stringent response regulation of biofilm formation in Vibrio cholerae

Biofilm formation is a key factor in Vibrio cholerae environmental survival and host colonization. Production of biofilm enables V. cholerae to survive and persist in aquatic environments and aids in the passage through the gastric acid barrier to allow access to the small intestine. The genes involved in biofilm formation are regulated by the transcriptional activators vpsR and vpsT, which are in turn transcriptionally regulated by a number of environmental signals. In this study, the role of the stringent response in biofilm formation was examined. V. cholerae mutants deficient in stringent response had a reduced ability to form biofilms, although they were not completely deficient in biofilm formation. There are three (p)ppGpp synthases in V. cholerae: RelA, SpoT, and RelV. All three synthases were necessary for vpsR transcription, with RelV showing the strongest effect. RelA was the only synthase that was necessary for vpsT expression. Stringent response regulation of vpsR and vpsT was shown to partially occur through rpoS. Biofilm formation in V. cholerae is controlled by a complex regulatory apparatus, with negative regulators of biofilm gene expression, such as quorum sensing, and positive regulators of biofilm genes, including stringent response, interacting to ensure that biofilm formation is coordinated with the environment.

Spatially selective colonization of the arthropod intestine through activation of Vibrio cholerae biofilm formation

Vibrio cholerae is an estuarine bacterium and the human pathogen responsible for the diarrheal disease cholera. In the environment, arthropods are proposed to be carriers and reservoirs of V. cholerae. However, the molecular basis of the association between V. cholerae and viable arthropods has not been elucidated previously. Here, we show that the V. cholerae Vibrio polysaccharide (VPS)-dependent biofilm is highly activated upon entry into the arthropod intestine and is specifically required for colonization of the arthropod rectum. Although the V. cholerae VPS-dependent biofilm has been studied in the laboratory for many years, the function of this biofilm in the natural habitats of V. cholerae has been elusive. Our results provide evidence that the VPS-dependent biofilm is required for intestinal colonization of an environmental host.

A communal bacterial adhesin anchors biofilm and bystander cells to surfaces

While the exopolysaccharide component of the biofilm matrix has been intensively studied, much less is known about matrix-associated proteins. To better understand the role of these proteins, we undertook a proteomic analysis of the V. cholerae biofilm matrix. Here we show that the two matrix-associated proteins, Bap1 and RbmA, perform distinct roles in the biofilm matrix. RbmA strengthens intercellular attachments. In contrast, Bap1 is concentrated on surfaces where it serves to anchor the biofilm and recruit cells not yet committed to the sessile lifestyle. This is the first example of a biofilm-derived, communally synthesized conditioning film that stabilizes the association of multilayer biofilms with a surface and facilitates recruitment of planktonic bystanders to the substratum. These studies define a novel paradigm for spatial and functional differentiation of proteins in the biofilm matrix and provide evidence for bacterial cooperation in maintenance and expansion of the multilayer biofilm.

An image-based 384-well high-throughput screening method for the discovery of biofilm inhibitors in Vibrio cholerae

Bacterial biofilms are assemblages of bacterial cells and extracellular matrix that result in the creation of surface-associated macrocolony formation. Most bacteria are capable of forming biofilms under suitable conditions. Biofilm formation by pathogenic bacteria on medical implant devices has been linked to implant rejection in up to 10% of cases, due to biofilm-related secondary infections. In addition, biofilm formation has been implicated in both bacterial persistence and antibiotic resistance. In this study, a method has been developed for the discovery of small molecule inhibitors of biofilm formation in Vibrio cholerae, through the use of high-throughput epifluorescence microscopy imaging. Adaptation of a strategy for the growth of bacterial biofilms in wellplates, and the subsequent quantification of biofilm coverage within these wells, provides the first example of an image-based 384-well format system for the evaluation of biofilm inhibition in V. cholerae. Application of this method to the high-throughput screening of small molecule libraries has lead to the discovery of 29 biofilm lead structures, many of which eliminate biofilm formation without altering bacterial cell viability.

Comparative genomics of the family Vibrionaceae reveals the wide distribution of genes encoding virulence-associated proteins

Background

Species of the family Vibrionaceae are ubiquitous in marine environments. Several of these species are important pathogens of humans and marine species. Evidence indicates that genetic exchange plays an important role in the emergence of new pathogenic strains within this family. Data from the sequenced genomes of strains in this family could show how the genes encoded by all these strains, known as the pangenome, are distributed. Information about the core, accessory and panproteome of this family can show how, for example, genes encoding virulence-associated proteins are distributed and help us understand how virulence emerges.

Results

We deduced the complete set of orthologs for eleven strains from this family. The core proteome consists of 1,882 orthologous groups, which is 28% of the 6,629 orthologous groups in this family. There were 4,411 accessory orthologous groups (i.e., proteins that occurred in from 2 to 10 proteomes) and 5,584 unique proteins (encoded once on only one of the eleven genomes). Proteins that have been associated with virulence in V. cholerae were widely distributed across the eleven genomes, but the majority was found only on the genomes of the two V. cholerae strains examined.

Conclusions

The proteomes are reflective of the differing evolutionary trajectories followed by different strains to similar phenotypes. The composition of the proteomes supports the notion that genetic exchange among species of the Vibrionaceae is widespread and that this exchange aids these species in adapting to their environments.

Role of Vibrio polysaccharide (vps) genes in VPS production, biofilm formation and Vibrio cholerae pathogenesis

Biofilm formation enhances the survival and persistence of the facultative human pathogen Vibrio cholerae in natural ecosystems and its transmission during seasonal cholera outbreaks. A major component of the V. cholerae biofilm matrix is the Vibrio polysaccharide (VPS), which is essential for development of three-dimensional biofilm structures. The vps genes are clustered in two regions, the vps-I cluster (vpsU, vpsA–K, VC0916–27) and the vps-II cluster (vpsL–Q, VC0934–39), separated by an intergenic region containing the rbm gene cluster that encodes biofilm matrix proteins. In-frame deletions of the vps clusters and genes encoding matrix proteins drastically altered biofilm formation phenotypes. To determine which genes within the vps gene clusters are required for biofilm formation and VPS synthesis, we generated in-frame deletion mutants for all the vps genes. Many of these mutants exhibited reduced capacity to produce VPS and biofilms. Infant mouse colonization assays revealed that mutants lacking either vps clusters or rbmA (encoding secreted matrix protein RbmA) exhibited a defect in intestinal colonization compared to the wild-type. Understanding the roles of the various vps gene products will aid in the biochemical characterization of the VPS biosynthetic pathway and elucidate how vps gene products contribute to VPS biosynthesis, biofilm formation and virulence in V. cholerae.

Vibrio cholerae VpsT regulates matrix production and motility by directly sensing cyclic di-GMP

Microorganisms can switch from a planktonic, free-swimming life-style to a sessile, colonial state, called a biofilm, which confers resistance to environmental stress. Conversion between the motile and biofilm life-styles has been attributed to increased levels of the prokaryotic second messenger cyclic di-guanosine monophosphate (c-di-GMP), yet the signaling mechanisms mediating such a global switch are poorly understood. Here we show that the transcriptional regulator VpsT from Vibrio cholerae directly senses c-di-GMP to inversely control extracellular matrix production and motility, which identifies VpsT as a master regulator for biofilm formation. Rather than being regulated by phosphorylation, VpsT undergoes a change in oligomerization on c-di-GMP binding.

Identification of a c-di-GMP-regulated polysaccharide locus governing stress resistance and biofilm and rugose colony formation in Vibrio vulnificus

As an etiological agent of bacterial sepsis and wound infections, Vibrio vulnificus is unique among the Vibrionaceae. Its continued environmental persistence and transmission are bolstered by its ability to colonize shellfish, form biofilms on various marine biotic surfaces, and generate a morphologically and physiologically distinct rugose (R) variant that yields profuse biofilms. Here, we identify a c-di-GMP-regulated locus (brp, for biofilm and rugose polysaccharide) and two transcription factors (BrpR and BrpT) that regulate these physiological responses. Disruption of glycosyltransferases within the locus or either regulator abated the inducing effect of c-di-GMP on biofilm formation, rugosity, and stress resistance. The same lesions, or depletion of intracellular c-di-GMP levels, abrogated these phenotypes in the R variant. The parental and brp mutant strains formed only scant monolayers on glass surfaces and oyster shells, and although the R variant formed expansive biofilms, these were of limited depth. Dramatic vertical expansion of the biofilm structure was observed in the parental strain and R variant, but not the brp mutants, when intracellular c-di-GMP levels were elevated. Hence, the brp-encoded polysaccharide is important for surface colonization and stress resistance in V. vulnificus, and its expression may control how the bacteria switch from a planktonic lifestyle to colonizing shellfish to invading human tissue.

Beyond antibiotic resistance: integrating conjugative elements of the SXT/R391 family that encode novel diguanylate cyclases participate to c-di-GMP signalling in Vibrio cholerae

In Vibrio cholerae, the second messenger bis-(3'-5')-cyclic dimeric guanosine monophosphate (c-di-GMP) increases exopolysaccharides production and biofilm formation and decreases virulence and motility. As such, c-di-GMP is considered an important player in the transition from the host to persistence in the environment. c-di-GMP level is regulated through a complex network of more than 60 chromosomal genes encoding predicted diguanylate cyclases (DGCs) and phosphodiesterases. Herein we report the characterization of two additional DGCs, DgcK and DgcL, encoded by integrating conjugative elements (ICEs) belonging to the SXT/R391 family. SXT/R391 ICEs are self-transmissible mobile elements that are widespread among vibrios and several species of enterobacteria. We found that deletion of dgcL increases the motility of V. cholerae, that overexpression of DgcK or DgcL modulates gene expression, biofilm formation and bacterial motility, and that a single amino acid change in the active site of either enzyme abolishes these phenotypes. We also show that DgcK and DgcL are able to synthesize c-di-GMP in vitro from GTP. DgcK was found to co-purify with non-covalently bound flavin mononucleotide (FMN). DgcL's enzymatic activity was augmented upon phosphorylation of its phosphorylatable response-regulator domain suggesting that DgcL is part of a two-component signal transduction system. Interestingly, we found orthologues of dgcK and dgcL in several SXT/R391 ICEs from two species of Vibrio originating from Asia, Africa and Central America. We propose that besides conferring usual antibiotic resistances, dgcKL-bearing SXT/R391 ICEs could enhance the survival of vibrios in aquatic environments by increasing c-di-GMP level.

Signals, regulatory networks, and materials that build and break bacterial biofilms

Biofilms are communities of microorganisms that live attached to surfaces. Biofilm formation has received much attention in the last decade, as it has become clear that virtually all types of bacteria can form biofilms and that this may be the preferred mode of bacterial existence in nature. Our current understanding of biofilm formation is based on numerous studies of myriad bacterial species. Here, we review a portion of this large body of work including the environmental signals and signaling pathways that regulate biofilm formation, the components of the biofilm matrix, and the mechanisms and regulation of biofilm dispersal.

Identification of a calcium-controlled negative regulatory system affecting Vibrio cholerae biofilm formation

Vibrio cholerae's capacity to cause outbreaks of cholera is linked to its survival and adaptability to changes in aquatic environments. One of the environmental conditions that can vary in V. cholerae's natural aquatic habitats is calcium (Ca(+2)). In this study, we investigated the response of V. cholerae to changes in extracellular Ca(2+) levels. Whole-genome expression profiling revealed that Ca(2+) decreased the expression of genes required for biofilm matrix production. Luria-Bertani (LB) medium supplemented with Ca(2+) (LBCa(2+)) caused V. cholerae to form biofilms with decreased thickness and increased roughness, as compared with biofilms formed in LB. Furthermore, addition of Ca(2+) led to dissolution in biofilms. Transcription of two genes encoding a two-component regulatory system pair, now termed calcium-regulated sensor (carS) and regulator (carR), was decreased in cells grown in LBCa(2+). Analysis of null and overexpression alleles of carS and carR revealed that expression of vps (Vibriopolysaccharide) genes and biofilm formation are negatively regulated by the CarRS two-component regulatory system. Through epistasis analysis we determined that CarR acts in parallel with HapR, the negative regulator of vps gene expression.

Identification and characterization of OscR, a transcriptional regulator involved in osmolarity adaptation in Vibrio cholerae

Vibrio cholerae is a facultative human pathogen. In its aquatic habitat and as it passes through the digestive tract, V. cholerae must cope with fluctuations in salinity. We analyzed the genome-wide transcriptional profile of V. cholerae grown at different NaCl concentrations and determined that the expression of compatible solute biosynthesis and transporter genes, virulence genes, and genes involved in adhesion and biofilm formation is differentially regulated. We determined that salinity modulates biofilm formation, and this response was mediated through the transcriptional regulators VpsR and VpsT. Additionally, a transcriptional regulator controlling an osmolarity adaptation response was identified. This regulator, OscR (osmolarity controlled regulator), was found to modulate the transcription of genes involved in biofilm matrix production and motility in a salinity-dependent manner. oscR mutants were less motile and exhibited enhanced biofilm formation only under low-salt conditions.

Vibrio biofilms: so much the same yet so different

Vibrios are natural inhabitants of aquatic environments and form symbiotic or pathogenic relationships with eukaryotic hosts. Recent studies reveal that the ability of vibrios to form biofilms (i.e. matrix-enclosed, surface-associated communities) depends upon specific structural genes (flagella, pili and exopolysaccharide biosynthesis) and regulatory processes (two-component regulators, quorum sensing and c-di-GMP signaling). Here, we compare and contrast mechanisms and regulation of biofilm formation by Vibrio species, with a focus on Vibrio cholerae, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Vibrio vulnificus and Vibrio fischeri. Although many aspects are the same, others differ dramatically. Crucial questions that remain to be answered regarding the molecular underpinnings of Vibrio biofilm formation are also discussed.

Identification and characterization of cyclic diguanylate signaling systems controlling rugosity in Vibrio cholerae

Vibrio cholerae, the causative agent of the disease cholera, can generate rugose variants that have an increased capacity to form biofilms. Rugosity and biofilm formation are critical for the environmental survival and transmission of the pathogen, and these processes are controlled by cyclic diguanylate (c-di-GMP) signaling systems. c-di-GMP is produced by diguanylate cyclases (DGCs) and degraded by phosphodiesterases (PDEs). Proteins that contain GGDEF domains act as DGCs, whereas proteins that contain EAL or HD-GYP domains act as PDEs. In the V. cholerae genome there are 62 genes that are predicted to encode proteins capable of modulating the cellular c-di-GMP concentration. We previously identified two DGCs, VpvC and CdgA, that can control the switch between smooth and rugose. To identify other c-di-GMP signaling proteins involved in rugosity, we generated in-frame deletion mutants of all genes predicted to encode proteins with GGDEF and EAL domains and then searched for mutants with altered rugosity. In this study, we identified two new genes, cdgG and cdgH, involved in rugosity control. We determined that CdgH acts as a DGC and positively regulates rugosity, whereas CdgG does not have DGC activity and negatively regulates rugosity. In addition, epistasis analysis with CdgG, CdgH, and other DGCs and PDEs controlling rugosity revealed that CdgG and CdgH act in parallel with previously identified c-di-GMP signaling proteins to control rugosity in V. cholerae. We also determined that PilZ domain-containing c-di-GMP binding proteins contribute minimally to rugosity, indicating that there are additional c-di-GMP binding proteins controlling rugosity in V. cholerae.

Impact on disinfection efficiency of cell load and of planktonic/adherent/detached state: case of Hafnia alvei inactivation by plasma activated water

This paper describes the effects of initial microbial concentration and planktonic/adherent/detached states on the efficiency of plasma-activated water. This disinfecting solution was obtained by treating distilled water with an atmospheric pressure plasma produced by gliding electric discharges in humid air. The inactivation kinetics of planktonic cells of Hafnia alvei (selected as a bacterial model) were found to be of the first order. They were influenced by the initial microbial concentration. Efficiency decreased when the initial viable population N(0) increased, and the inactivation rate k(max) was linearly modified as a function of Log(10) (N(0)). This relation was used to compare planktonic, adherent, and detached cells independently from the level of population. Bacteria adhering to stainless steel and high-density polyethylene were also sensitive to treatment, but at a lower rate than their free-living counterparts. Moreover, cells detached from these solid substrates exhibited an inactivation rate lower than that of planktonic cells but similar to adherent bacteria. This strongly suggests the induction of a physiological modification to bacteria during the adhesion step, rendering adherent--and further detached--bacteria less susceptible to the treatment, when compared to planktonic bacteria.

Interplay between cyclic AMP-cyclic AMP receptor protein and cyclic di-GMP signaling in Vibrio cholerae biofilm formation

Vibrio cholerae is a facultative human pathogen. The ability of V. cholerae to form biofilms is crucial for its survival in aquatic habitats between epidemics and is advantageous for host-to-host transmission during epidemics. Formation of mature biofilms requires the production of extracellular matrix components, including Vibrio polysaccharide (VPS) and matrix proteins. Biofilm formation is positively controlled by the transcriptional regulators VpsR and VpsT and is negatively regulated by the quorum-sensing transcriptional regulator HapR, as well as the cyclic AMP (cAMP)-cAMP receptor protein (CRP) regulatory complex. Transcriptome analysis of cyaA (encoding adenylate cyclase) and crp (encoding cAMP receptor protein) deletion mutants revealed that cAMP-CRP negatively regulates transcription of both VPS biosynthesis genes and genes encoding biofilm matrix proteins. Further mutational and expression analysis revealed that cAMP-CRP negatively regulates transcription of vps genes indirectly through its action on vpsR transcription. However, negative regulation of the genes encoding biofilm matrix proteins by cAMP-CRP can also occur independent of VpsR. Transcriptome analysis also revealed that cAMP-CRP regulates the expression of a set of genes encoding diguanylate cyclases (DGCs) and phosphodiesterases. Mutational and phenotypic analysis of the differentially regulated DGCs revealed that a DGC, CdgA, is responsible for the increase in biofilm formation in the Deltacrp mutant, showing the connection between of cyclic di-GMP and cAMP signaling in V. cholerae.