title: Biofilm formation and acyl homoserine lactone production in the Burkholderia cepacia complex.
abstract: Acyl homoserine lactone (acyl-HSL)-mediated gene regulation has been shown to influence biofilm formation in one Burkholderia cepacia cystic fibrosis isolate, but it is not known whether this relationship is a consistent feature of the several genomic species that make up the B. cepacia complex (BCC). We screened strains belonging to genomovars I to V of the BCC for biofilm formation on an abiotic surface and for acyl-HSL synthesis. We determined that organisms from each of these genomovars were capable of biofilm formation. Similarly, acyl-HSL was synthesized by organisms from each of genomovars I to V, with most isolates producing octanoyl-HSL in greatest abundance. When biofilms were grown in Luria broth, acyl-HSL synthesis and biofilm formation appeared to be associated, but these phenotypes were independent when the biofilms were grown in basal salts containing citrate. Genomovar V strains synthesized the greatest quantities of acyl-HSL, and genomovar II and III-A strains elaborated the most abundant biofilms. Quorum sensing may play a role in BCC pathogenesis, but it may not regulate biofilm formation under all growth conditions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, University of British Columbia, BC Research Institute for Children's and Women's Health, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V5Z 4H4.
authors.forename: Barbara-Ann D
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Conway
authors.forename: Vicnays
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Venu
authors.forename: David P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Speert
mesh_terms: D015107:4-Butyrolactone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D018441:Biofilms / Q000254:growth & development*; D019121:Burkholderia Infections / Q000382:microbiology; D016956:Burkholderia cepacia / Q000145:classification* / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D003470:Culture Media; D003550:Cystic Fibrosis / Q000382:microbiology; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; D006801:Humans; D011126:Polypropylenes; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media; D011126:Polypropylenes; C088386:homoserine lactone; D015107:4-Butyrolactone