title: Coaggregation occurs between microorganisms isolated from different environments.
abstract: Coaggregation, the specific recognition and adherence of different microbial species, is thought to enhance biofilm formation. To date, no studies have focused on the ability of microorganisms isolated from a broad range of environments to coaggregate with each other and it is unclear whether coaggregation promotes the transmission of microorganisms between environmental niches. We aimed to evaluate the coaggregation ability of 29 bacteria and one fungus, isolated from a range of different environments, and to characterize the cell-surface polymers that mediate coaggregation between selected pairs. Strains were categorized as belonging to one of the four microbial archetypes: aquatic, broad environment, human opportunistic pathogen or human oral. A total of 23 of the 30 strains (77%) coaggregated with at least one other and 21/30 (70%) coaggregated with strains belonging to other archetypes. Nasopharyngeal bacteria belonging to the human opportunistic pathogen archetype showed the least number of coaggregations, and five Haemophilus influenzae strains did not coaggregate. Protease and sugar treatments indicated that coaggregation between strains of different archetypes was often mediated by lectin-saccharide interactions (9 of 15 evaluated pairs). In conclusion, coaggregation can occur between taxonomically disparate species isolated from discrete environments. We propose that these organisms be labeled as 'cross-environment coaggregating organisms'. The ability to coaggregate may aid species to colonize non-indigenous biofilms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
authors.forename: Michael R E
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Stevens
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
authors.forename: Ting L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
authors.forename: Jay
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vornhagen
authors.affiliation: Centre for Oral Health Research, School of Dental Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4BW, UK.
authors.forename: Nicholas S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Jakubovics
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA Department of Pediatrics, Medical School, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
authors.forename: Janet R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Gilsdorf
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
authors.forename: Carl F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Marrs
authors.affiliation: Nofima, Norwegian Institute of Food, Fisheries and Aquaculture Research, NO-1430 Ås, Norway.
authors.forename: Trond
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Møretrø
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA alexhr@umich.edu.
authors.forename: Alexander H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Rickard
mesh_terms: D001120:Arginine / Q000494:pharmacology; D001419:Bacteria / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000382:microbiology; D018407:Bacterial Physiological Phenomena; D018441:Biofilms; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000502:physiology*; D002241:Carbohydrates / Q000494:pharmacology; D004783:Environmental Microbiology; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006801:Humans; D056265:Microbial Interactions / Q000187:drug effects; D009305:Nasopharynx / Q000382:microbiology*; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases; D010802:Phylogeny; D012329:RNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D002241:Carbohydrates; D012329:RNA, Bacterial; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; D001120:Arginine; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases
keywords: Candida albicans; bacteria; biofilm; coaggregation; confocal laser scanning microscopy; phylogenetic