title: Biofilm acts as a microenvironment for plankton-associated Vibrio cholerae in the aquatic environment of Bangladesh.
abstract: The role of biofilm as a microenvironment of plankton-associated Vibrio cholerae was investigated using plexiglass as a bait. A total of 72 biofilm samples were tested using culture, direct fluorescent antibody (DFA) and molecular techniques following standard procedures. Culturable V. cholerae (smooth and rugose variants) were isolated from 33% of the samples. V. cholerae O1 were detected by FA technique throughout the year except April and June. All V. cholerae O1 isolates were positive for tcpA, ctxA and ace genes while V. cholerae non-O1, non-O139 isolates lacked these genes. V. cholerae O1 (both Inaba and Ogawa) strains had identical ribotype pattern (R1), but V. cholerae non-O1, non-O139 had different ribotype patterns. All V. cholerae O1 strains were resistant to vibrio-static compound (O/129). All V. cholerae O1 except one were resistant to trimethoprime-sulphamethoxazole, streptomycin, nalidixic acid and furazolidone but sensitive to ciprofloxacin, and tetracycline. This study indicates that plexiglass can act as a bait to form biofilm, a microenvironment that provides shelter for plankton containing V. cholerae in the aquatic environment of Bangladesh.
authors: International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh. sislam@icddrb.org
authors: Mohammad Sirajul
authors: MS
authors: Islam
authors: Mohammad Iqbal Kabir
authors: MI
authors: Jahid
authors: Mohammad Majibur
authors: MM
authors: Rahman
authors: Mohammed Ziaur
authors: MZ
authors: Rahman
authors: Mohammad Shafiqul
authors: MS
authors: Islam
authors: Mohammad Shahidul
authors: MS
authors: Kabir
authors: David Allen
authors: DA
authors: Sack
authors: Gary K
authors: GK
authors: Schoolnik
mesh_terms: D001459:Bangladesh / Q000453:epidemiology; D018441:Biofilms / Q000254:growth & development*; D002772:Cholera Toxin / Q000235:genetics*; D010933:Plankton / Q000382:microbiology*; D041241:Vibrio cholerae O1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000502:physiology; D041242:Vibrio cholerae O139 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000502:physiology; D014871:Water Microbiology
chemical_list: D002772:Cholera Toxin