title: The role of the globin-coupled sensor YddV in a mature E. coli biofilm population.
abstract: Biofilm-associated infections are hard to treat because of their high antibiotic resistance and the presence of a very persistent subpopulation of bacteria. The second messenger molecule cyclic di-guanosine monophosphate (c-di-GMP) plays a very important role in this biofilm physiology. Here, we evaluated the role of YddV, an enzyme with a c-di-GMP synthesis function, in the formation and maturation of Escherichia coli biofilms. Our results suggest that YddV stimulates biofilm growth via its role in the production of c-di-GMP and this likely by influencing the production of matrix (e.g. poly-N-acetylglucosamine (PGA)). However, lowering the YddV expression did not alter the biofilm formation since there was no significant difference between the biofilm phenotypes of WT E. coli and YddV-knockout bacteria. Additionally, YddV expression had no significant influence on the amount of persister cells within the biofilm population, questioning the use of YddV as therapeutic target.
authors.affiliation: Protein Chemistry, Proteomics and Epigenetic Signalling (PPES), Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.
authors.forename: Joke
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Donné
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Microbiology, Parasitology and Hygiene (LMPH), Faculty of Pharmaceutical, Biomedical and Veterinary Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.
authors.forename: Marian
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Van Kerckhoven
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Microbiology, Parasitology and Hygiene (LMPH), Faculty of Pharmaceutical, Biomedical and Veterinary Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.
authors.forename: Louis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Maes
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Microbiology, Parasitology and Hygiene (LMPH), Faculty of Pharmaceutical, Biomedical and Veterinary Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cos
authors.affiliation: Protein Chemistry, Proteomics and Epigenetic Signalling (PPES), Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium. Electronic address: sylvia.dewilde@uantwerp.be.
authors.forename: Sylvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dewilde
mesh_terms: D018441:Biofilms; D006152:Cyclic GMP / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000096:biosynthesis; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000502:physiology*; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D019761:Phosphorus-Oxygen Lyases / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; C062025:bis(3',5')-cyclic diguanylic acid; D019761:Phosphorus-Oxygen Lyases; C553251:yddV protein, E coli; D006152:Cyclic GMP
keywords: Biofilm; Diguanylate cyclase; E. coli; Globin-coupled sensor; Persister cells