title: Biofilm formation and cellulose expression by Bordetella avium 197N, the causative agent of bordetellosis in birds and an opportunistic respiratory pathogen in humans.
abstract: Although bacterial cellulose synthase (bcs) operons are widespread within the Proteobacteria phylum, subunits required for the partial-acetylation of the polymer appear to be restricted to a few γ-group soil, plant-associated and phytopathogenic pseudomonads, including Pseudomonas fluorescens SBW25 and several Pseudomonas syringae pathovars. However, a bcs operon with acetylation subunits has also been annotated in the unrelated β-group respiratory pathogen, Bordetella avium 197N. Our comparison of subunit protein sequences and GC content analyses confirms the close similarity between the B. avium 197N and pseudomonad operons and suggests that, in both cases, the cellulose synthase and acetylation subunits were acquired as a single unit. Using static liquid microcosms, we can confirm that B. avium 197N expresses low levels of cellulose in air-liquid interface biofilms and that biofilm strength and attachment levels could be increased by elevating c-di-GMP levels like the pseudomonads, but cellulose was not required for biofilm formation itself. The finding that B. avium 197N is capable of producing cellulose from a highly-conserved, but relatively uncommon bcs operon raises the question of what functional role this modified polymer plays during the infection of the upper respiratory tract or survival between hosts, and what environmental signals control its production.
authors.affiliation: School of Science, Engineering and Technology, Abertay University, Bell Street, Dundee DD1 1HG, UK.
authors.forename: Kimberley
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: McLaughlin
authors.affiliation: School of Science, Engineering and Technology, Abertay University, Bell Street, Dundee DD1 1HG, UK.
authors.forename: Ayorinde O
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Folorunso
authors.affiliation: School of Science, Engineering and Technology, Abertay University, Bell Street, Dundee DD1 1HG, UK.
authors.forename: Yusuf Y
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Deeni
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological and Life Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Gipsy Lane, Headington, Oxford OX3 0BP, UK.
authors.forename: Dona
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Foster
authors.affiliation: Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, 150 Zabolotnoho Street, Kiev 03680, Ukraine.
authors.forename: Oksana
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Gorbatiuk
authors.affiliation: School of Science, Engineering and Technology, Abertay University, Bell Street, Dundee DD1 1HG, UK.
authors.forename: Simona M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Hapca
authors.affiliation: School of Science, Engineering and Technology, Abertay University, Bell Street, Dundee DD1 1HG, UK.
authors.forename: Corinna
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Immoor
authors.affiliation: School of Science, Engineering and Technology, Abertay University, Bell Street, Dundee DD1 1HG, UK.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Koza
authors.affiliation: School of Science, Engineering and Technology, Abertay University, Bell Street, Dundee DD1 1HG, UK.
authors.forename: Ibrahim U
authors.initials: IU
authors.lastname: Mohammed
authors.affiliation: Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, 150 Zabolotnoho Street, Kiev 03680, Ukraine.
authors.forename: Olena
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Moshynets
authors.affiliation: Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry and Petrochemistry of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, 50 Kharkivske Schose, Kiev 02160, Ukraine.
authors.forename: Sergii
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rogalsky
authors.affiliation: School of Science, Engineering and Technology, Abertay University, Bell Street, Dundee DD1 1HG, UK.
authors.forename: Kamil
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Zawadzki
authors.affiliation: School of Science, Engineering and Technology, Abertay University, Bell Street, Dundee DD1 1HG, UK. Electronic address: a.spiers@abertay.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Andrew J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Spiers
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001422:Bacterial Adhesion; D018441:Biofilms / Q000254:growth & development*; D001715:Bird Diseases / Q000382:microbiology; D001717:Birds / Q000382:microbiology; D001885:Bordetella Infections / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000662:veterinary; D042482:Bordetella avium / Q000235:genetics* / Q000472:pathogenicity / Q000502:physiology*; D002482:Cellulose / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D006152:Cyclic GMP / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000378:metabolism; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; D005964:Glucosyltransferases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D009876:Operon; D009894:Opportunistic Infections / Q000382:microbiology; D011551:Pseudomonas fluorescens / Q000235:genetics; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: C062025:bis(3',5')-cyclic diguanylic acid; D002482:Cellulose; D005964:Glucosyltransferases; C478648:cellulose synthase; D006152:Cyclic GMP
keywords: Air–liquid interface; Biofilm; Bordetella avium; Cellulose; Microcosm; c-di-GMP