Biofilm formation by Streptococcus pneumoniae: role of choline, extracellular DNA, and capsular polysaccharide in microbial accretion.

ABSTRACT: Streptococcus pneumoniae colonizes the human upper respiratory tract, and this asymptomatic colonization is known to precede pneumococcal disease. In this report, chemically defined and semisynthetic media were used to identify the initial steps of biofilm formation by pneumococcus during growth on abiotic surfaces such as polystyrene or glass. Unencapsulated pneumococci adhered to abiotic surfaces and formed a three-dimensional structure about 25 microm deep, as observed by confocal laser scanning microscopy and low-temperature scanning electron microscopy. Choline residues of cell wall teichoic acids were found to play a fundamental role in pneumococcal biofilm development. The role in biofilm formation of choline-binding proteins, which anchor to the teichoic acids of the cell envelope,

SUBMITTER: Moscoso M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1636320 | biostudies-literature | 2006 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature