title: Environmental factors affecting Burkholderia pseudomallei biofilm formation.
abstract: Melioidosis is highly prevalent in Northeast Thailand which is associated with high incidence of Burkholderia pseudomallei present in the soil of this region. B. pseudomallei when present in biofilm becomes resistant to numerous environmental factors and also to certain antibiotics. In this study, we examined the effects of several environmentally relevant factors (salinity, iron, manganese and temperature) on biofilm formation of four clinical ribotypes of B. pseudomallei commonly found in Northeast Thailand. The results showed that biofilm formation increased when B. pseudomallei were grown in modified Vogel and Bonner's medium containing 0.85-1.7 M NaCl or 100-500 microM iron (FeSO4). Low temperature (20 degrees C) also induced more biofilm formation than 30 degrees C or 37 degrees C. On the other hand, protease production and bacterial motility were adversely affected but not in the case of low temperature. Results from this study should be useful in the development of prevention measures or controlling B. pseudomallei biofilm formation in the environment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand.
authors.forename: Watcharaporn
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Kamjumphol
authors.forename: Sorujsiri
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chareonsudjai
authors.forename: Pisit
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chareonsudjai
authors.forename: Surasak
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wongratanacheewin
authors.forename: Suwimol
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Taweechaisupapong
mesh_terms: D018441:Biofilms / Q000254:growth & development*; D016957:Burkholderia pseudomallei / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000502:physiology; D004777:Environment; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron; D008345:Manganese; D021521:Ribotyping; D054712:Salinity; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D012987:Soil; D008345:Manganese; D007501:Iron