title: Escherichia coli O8-antigen enhances biofilm formation under agitated conditions.
abstract: Bacterial surface components have a major role in the development of biofilms. In the present study, the effect of Escherichia coli O8-antigen on biofilms was investigated using two E. coli K-12 derived strains that differed only in the O8-antigen biosynthesis. In the presence of O8-antigen both bacterial adhesion and biofilm formation slightly decreased under static conditions whereas a substantial increase in adhesion and biofilm formation was observed under agitated conditions. It was noted that, irrespective of the O8-antigen status, the hydrophobic interactions played an important role in bacterial adhesion under both static and agitated conditions. However, under agitated conditions, the extent of bacterial adhesion in the O8-antigen bearing strain was predominantly determined by the electrostatic interactions. Results showed that the presence of O8-antigen decreases the surface hydrophobicity and surface charge. Moreover, O8-antigen facilitates adhesion on hydrophilic and hydrophobic surfaces as revealed through tests with modified substrata. Our results indicate that O8-antigen, which appears dispensable for biofilm formation under static conditions, actually enhances E. coli biofilm formation under agitated conditions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, West Bengal, India, PIN-721302.
authors.forename: Akash
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, West Bengal, India, PIN-721302.
authors.forename: Dhriti
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mallik
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, West Bengal, India, PIN-721302.
authors.forename: Shilpa
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pal
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, West Bengal, India, PIN-721302.
authors.forename: Sathi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mallick
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, West Bengal, India, PIN-721302.
authors.forename: Sujoy
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sarkar
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, West Bengal, India, PIN-721302.
authors.forename: Ajoy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chanda
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, West Bengal, India, PIN-721302 anindyain@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Anindya S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Ghosh
mesh_terms: D001422:Bacterial Adhesion; D018441:Biofilms / Q000254:growth & development*; D048168:Escherichia coli K12 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D057927:Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000502:physiology; D019081:O Antigens / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D019081:O Antigens
keywords: Escherichia coli; O-antigen; adhesion; biofilm; hydrophobic; lipopolysaccharide