B. Cepacia Article

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Journal of Bacteriology, October 2002, p. 5678-5685, Vol. 184, No. 20

Copyright © 2002, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Biofilm Formation and Acyl Homoserine Lactone Production in the

Burkholderia cepacia Complex

Barbara-Ann D. Conway, Vicnays Venu, and P. Speert* Department of

Paediatrics, University of British Columbia, BC Research Institute for

Children's and Women's Health, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V5Z

4H4 Received 24 April 2002/ Accepted 22 July 2002Acyl homoserine lactone

(acyl-HSL)-mediated gene regulation has been shown to influence biofilm

formation in one Burkholderia cepacia cystic fibrosis isolate, but it is

not known whether this relationship is a consistent feature of the

several genomic species that make up the B. cepacia complex (BCC). We

screened strains belonging to genomovars I to V of the BCC for biofilm

formation on an abiotic surface and for acyl-HSL synthesis. We determined

that organisms from each of these genomovars were capable of biofilm

formation. Similarly, acyl-HSL was synthesized by organisms from each of

genomovars I to V, with most isolates producing octanoyl-HSL in greatest

abundance. When biofilms were grown in Luria broth, acyl-HSL synthesis

and biofilm formation appeared to be associated, but these phenotypes

were independent when the biofilms were grown in basal salts containing

citrate. Genomovar V strains synthesized the greatest quantities of

acyl-HSL, and genomovar II and III-A strains elaborated the most abundant

biofilms. Quorum sensing may play a role in BCC pathogenesis, but it may

not regulate biofilm formation under all growth conditions. *

Corresponding author. Mailing address: BC Research Institute for

Children's and Women's Health, 950 West 28th Ave., Vancouver, BC, Canada

V5Z 4H4. Phone: . Fax: . E-mail:

speert@.... Journal of Bacteriology, October 2002, p.

5678-5685, Vol. 184, No. 20

0021-9193/02/$04.00+0     DOI: 10.1128/JB.184.20.5678-5685.2002

Copyright © 2002, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

This article has been cited by other articles:

Chung, J. W., Altman, E., Beveridge, T. J., Speert, D. P. (2003).

Colonial Morphology of Burkholderia cepacia Complex Genomovar III:

Implications in Exopolysaccharide Production, Pilus Expression, and

Persistence in the Mouse. Infect. Immun. 71: 904-909 [Abstract] [Full

Text]

Becki

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