Abstract |
Major pathogenic clonal complexes (cc) of Neisseria meningitidis differ substantially in their point prevalence among healthy carriers. We show that frequently carried pathogenic cc (e.g. sequence type ST-41/44 cc and ST-32 cc) depend on extracellular DNA (eDNA) to initiate in vitro biofilm formation, whereas biofilm formation of cc with low point prevalence (ST-8 cc and ST-11 cc) was eDNA-independent. For initial biofilm formation, a ST-32 cc type strain, but not a ST-11 type strain, utilized eDNA. The release of eDNA was mediated by lytic transglycosylase and cytoplasmic N-acetylmuramyl- L-alanine amidase genes. In late biofilms, outer membrane phospholipase A-dependent autolysis, which was observed in most cc, but not in ST-8 and ST-11 strains, was required for shear force resistance of microcolonies. Taken together, N. meningitidis evolved two different biofilm formation strategies, an eDNA-dependent one yielding shear force resistant microcolonies, and an eDNA-independent one. Based on the experimental findings and previous epidemiological observations, we hypothesize that most meningococcal cc display a settler phenotype, which is eDNA-dependent and results in a stable interaction with the host. On the contrary, spreaders (ST-11 and ST-8 cc) are unable to use eDNA for biofilm formation and might compensate for poor colonization properties by high transmission rates.
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Authors | Martin Lappann, Heike Claus, Tessa van Alen, Morten Harmsen, Johannes Elias, Søren Molin, Ulrich Vogel |
Journal | Molecular microbiology
(Mol Microbiol)
Vol. 75
Issue 6
Pg. 1355-71
(Mar 2010)
ISSN: 1365-2958 [Electronic] England |
PMID | 20180907
(Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
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Chemical References |
- Bacterial Proteins
- DNA, Bacterial
- Glycosyltransferases
- Phospholipases
- N-Acetylmuramoyl-L-alanine Amidase
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Topics |
- Bacterial Proteins
(metabolism)
- Bacteriolysis
- Biofilms
(growth & development)
- DNA, Bacterial
(metabolism)
- Glycosyltransferases
(metabolism)
- N-Acetylmuramoyl-L-alanine Amidase
(metabolism)
- Neisseria meningitidis
(cytology, growth & development, metabolism, physiology)
- Phospholipases
(metabolism)
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