title: F1C fimbriae play an important role in biofilm formation and intestinal colonization by the Escherichia coli commensal strain Nissle 1917.
abstract: Bacterial biofilm formation is thought to enhance survival in natural environments and during interaction with hosts. A robust colonizer of the human gastrointestinal tract, Escherichia coli Nissle 1917, is widely employed in probiotic therapy. In this study, we performed a genetic screen to identify genes that are involved in Nissle biofilm formation. We found that F1C fimbriae are required for biofilm formation on an inert surface. In addition, these structures are also important for adherence to epithelial cells and persistence in infant mouse colonization. The data suggest a possible connection between Nissle biofilm formation and the survival of this commensal within the host. Further study of the requirements for robust biofilm formation may improve the therapeutic efficacy of Nissle 1917.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
authors.forename: Melissa A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Lasaro
authors.forename: Nina
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Salinger
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Yantao
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Zhengtao
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhong
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Goulian
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001422:Bacterial Adhesion; D018441:Biofilms / Q000254:growth & development*; D002460:Cell Line; D004251:DNA Transposable Elements; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000382:microbiology; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000502:physiology*; D010861:Fimbriae, Bacterial / Q000502:physiology*; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000382:microbiology*; D017353:Gene Deletion; D006801:Humans; D007422:Intestines / Q000382:microbiology; D051379:Mice; D016254:Mutagenesis, Insertional
chemical_list: D004251:DNA Transposable Elements