title: Biofilm formation by Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato.
abstract: Bacterial biofilms are microbial communities held together by an extracellular polymeric substance matrix predominantly composed of polysaccharides, proteins and nucleic acids. We had previously shown that Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto, the causative organism of Lyme disease in the United States is capable of forming biofilms in vitro. Here, we investigated biofilm formation by B. afzelii and B. garinii, which cause Lyme disease in Europe. Using various histochemistry and microscopy techniques, we show that B. afzelii and B. garinii form biofilms, which resemble biofilms formed by B. burgdorferi sensu stricto. High-resolution atomic force microscopy revealed similarities in the ultrastructural organization of the biofilms form by three Borrelia species. Histochemical experiments revealed a heterogeneous organization of exopolysaccharides among the three Borrelia species. These results suggest that biofilm formation might be a common trait of Borrelia genera physiology.
authors.affiliation: Lyme Disease Research Group, 300 Boston Post Road, University of New Haven, West Haven, CT, 06516, Department of Biology and Environmental Science, University of New Haven, West Haven, CT 06519, USA.
authors.forename: Venkata Arun
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Timmaraju
authors.affiliation: Lyme Disease Research Group, 300 Boston Post Road, University of New Haven, West Haven, CT, 06516, Department of Biology and Environmental Science, University of New Haven, West Haven, CT 06519, USA.
authors.forename: Priyanka A S
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Theophilus
authors.affiliation: Lyme Disease Research Group, 300 Boston Post Road, University of New Haven, West Haven, CT, 06516, Department of Biology and Environmental Science, University of New Haven, West Haven, CT 06519, USA.
authors.forename: Kunthavai
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Balasubramanian
authors.affiliation: Lyme Disease Research Group, 300 Boston Post Road, University of New Haven, West Haven, CT, 06516, Department of Biology and Environmental Science, University of New Haven, West Haven, CT 06519, USA.
authors.forename: Shafiq
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shakih
authors.affiliation: Lyme Disease Research Group, 300 Boston Post Road, University of New Haven, West Haven, CT, 06516, Department of Biology and Environmental Science, University of New Haven, West Haven, CT 06519, USA.
authors.forename: David F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Luecke
authors.affiliation: Lyme Disease Research Group, 300 Boston Post Road, University of New Haven, West Haven, CT, 06516, Department of Biology and Environmental Science, University of New Haven, West Haven, CT 06519, USA esapi@newhaven.edu.
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sapi
mesh_terms: D018441:Biofilms / Q000254:growth & development*; D001898:Borrelia / Q000145:classification / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D025065:Borrelia burgdorferi / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D015748:Borrelia burgdorferi Group / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005060:Europe; D008193:Lyme Disease / Q000382:microbiology; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D010641:Phenotype; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial / Q000502:physiology; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial
keywords: Borrelia afzelii; Borrelia burgdorferi; Borrelia garinii; EPS; atomic force microscopy; biofilm