Virulence and the environment: a novel role for Vibrio cholerae toxin-coregulated pili in biofilm formation on chitin.
The toxin-coregulated pilus (TCP) of Vibrio cholerae is required for intestinal colonization and cholera toxin acquisition. Here we report that TCP mediates bacterial interactions required for biofilm differentiation on chitinaceous surfaces. We also show that undifferentiated TCP- biofilms have reduced ecological fitness and, thus, that chitin colonization may represent an ecological setting outside the host in which selection for a host colonization factor may take place.
Reguera
Gemma
G
Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA. greguera@microbio.umass.edu
Kolter
Roberto
R
D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000378:metabolism; D018441:Biofilms / Q000254:growth & development*; D002686:Chitin; D004777:Environment; D010861:Fimbriae, Bacterial / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D014734:Vibrio cholerae / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000472:pathogenicity / Q000502:physiology*; D014774:Virulence
D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D002686:Chitin