title: High-frequency rugose exopolysaccharide production by Vibrio cholerae.
abstract: Vibrio cholerae can shift to a "rugose" phenotype, thereby producing copious exopolysaccharide (EPS), which promotes its environmental survival and persistence. We report conditions that promote high-frequency rugose EPS production (HFRP), whereby cells switch at high frequency (up to 80%) to rugose EPS production. HFRP appeared to be more common in clinical strains, as HFRP was found in 6 of 19 clinical strains (32%) (including classical, El Tor, and non-O1 strains) but in only 1 of 16 environmental strains (6%). Differences were found between strains in rugose colony morphology, conditions promoting HFRP, the frequency of rugose-to-smooth (R-S) cell reversion, and biofilm formation. We propose that rugose EPS and HFRP provide an evolutionary and adaptive advantage to specific epidemic V. cholerae strains for increased persistence in the environment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21201, USA.
authors.forename: Afsar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ali
authors.forename: Mohammed H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Rashid
authors.forename: David K R
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Karaolis
mesh_terms: D018441:Biofilms; D010641:Phenotype; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial / Q000378:metabolism*; D014734:Vibrio cholerae / Q000145:classification / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial