The EPS-I exopolysaccharide transforms <i>Ralstonia</i> wilt pathogen biofilms into viscoelastic fluids for rapid dissemination in planta.

ABSTRACT: Ralstonia solanacearum species complex (RSSC) pathogens cause destructive plant wilt diseases of a wide variety of crops, leading to significant agricultural losses worldwide. These bacteria rapidly spread through the water-transporting xylem where they grow prolifically and produce abundant biofilm that clogs xylem vessels. To understand RSSC biofilm behavior in planta, we examined their complex fluid mechanics. Rheological analyses revealed that unlike all previously analyzed microbial biofilms, RSSC biofilms are shear-thinning, viscoelastic fluids at physiologically relevant shear forces. To determine which factors confer these unique mechanics, we analyzed biofilms of bacterial mutants with altered biofilm components. Genetic analysis demonstrated that development of the viscous

SUBMITTER: Cope-Arguello ML 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12846841 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature