title: A multi-approach study of influence of growth temperature and nutrient deprivation in a strain of Aeromonas hydrophila.
abstract: In the present study we investigated the behavior of an Aeromonas hydrophila strain in prolonged nutrient deprivation condition analyzing the possible link among survival, cell morphology and adhesive characteristics and correlating them with the expression of the 43kDa outer membrane protein (OMP). The strain was inoculated in mineral and drinking chlorinated water, and in Nutrient Broth as a control with incubation at 4 and 24°C for 176days. Specimens were analyzed at different times during starvation stress. Viability was assessed by flow cytometry and growth by plate count technique; morphology and adhesivity were detected by optical and electron microscopy. The 43kDa OMP expression at different times was determined after immunoblotting assay using a polyclonal antibody produced in rabbit. The results showed a long-term viability as evidenced by cytofluorimetric analysis; however, the prolonged starvation led to the shift from the normal rod shaped cells to spherical forms in the last phases of incubation especially at 24°C. Concomitantly with the appearance of spherical cells we noted a reduction of the 43kDa OMP content and adhesive ability. Therefore, our results suggest a role of the 43kDa OMP as adhesin in A. hydrophila. In conclusion, we demonstrated that the bacterium can long survive under stress conditions, however adopting strategies which can lead to a loss of some cell surface components involved in the interactions with eukaryotic cells, therefore modifying its virulence properties.
authors: Department of Biomolecular Sciences, University of Urbino Carlo Bo, Urbino, Italy. Electronic address: francesca.bruscolini@uniub.it.
authors: Francesca
authors: F
authors: Bruscolini
authors: Department of Biomolecular Sciences, University of Urbino Carlo Bo, Urbino, Italy.
authors: Federica
authors: F
authors: Barbieri
authors: Department of Earth, Life and Environmental Sciences (DiSTeVA), University of Urbino Carlo Bo, Urbino, Italy.
authors: Michela
authors: M
authors: Battistelli
authors: Department of Earth, Life and Environmental Sciences (DiSTeVA), University of Urbino Carlo Bo, Urbino, Italy.
authors: Michele
authors: M
authors: Betti
authors: Department of Biomolecular Sciences, University of Urbino Carlo Bo, Urbino, Italy.
authors: Sabrina
authors: S
authors: Dominici
authors: Department of Earth, Life and Environmental Sciences (DiSTeVA), University of Urbino Carlo Bo, Urbino, Italy.
authors: Anita
authors: A
authors: Manti
authors: Department of Earth, Life and Environmental Sciences (DiSTeVA), University of Urbino Carlo Bo, Urbino, Italy.
authors: Paola
authors: P
authors: Boi
authors: Department Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
authors: Francesco
authors: F
authors: Marinelli
authors: Department of Earth, Life and Environmental Sciences (DiSTeVA), University of Urbino Carlo Bo, Urbino, Italy.
authors: Stefano
authors: S
authors: Papa
authors: Department of Biomolecular Sciences, University of Urbino Carlo Bo, Urbino, Italy.
authors: Anna
authors: A
authors: Pianetti
mesh_terms: D016980:Aeromonas hydrophila / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D058491:Bacterial Load; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; D050296:Microbial Viability
chemical_list: D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins
keywords: 43kDa OMP; Adhesion; Aeromonas hydrophila starvation; Cell morphology