Interstrain Cooperation in Meningococcal Biofilms: Role of Autotransporters NalP and AutA.

ABSTRACT: Neisseria meningitidis (Nm) and Neisseria lactamica (Nl) are commensal bacteria that live in the human nasopharynx, where they form microcolonies. In contrast to Nl, Nm occasionally causes blood and/or meningitis infection with often fatal consequences. Here, we studied interactions between neisserial strains during biofilm formation. Fluorescent strains were engineered and analyzed for growth in single- and dual-strain biofilms with confocal laser-scanning microscopy. Different strains of diverse Neisseria species formed microcolonies of different sizes and morphologies. Pair-wise combinations of two invasive Nm strains and one Nm carrier isolate showed that these strains can coexist in spite of the fact that they produce toxins to c

SUBMITTER: Perez-Ortega J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5360712 | biostudies-literature | 2017

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature