Extracellular Polymeric Matrix Production and Relaxation under Fluid Shear and Mechanical Pressure in Staphylococcus aureus Biofilms.

ABSTRACT: The viscoelasticity of a biofilm's EPS (extracellular polymeric substance) matrix conveys protection against mechanical challenges, but adaptive responses of biofilm inhabitants to produce EPS are not well known. Here, we compare the responses of a biofilm of an EPS-producing (ATCC 12600) and a non-EPS producing (5298) Staphylococcus aureus strain to fluid shear and mechanical challenge. Confocal laser scanning microscopy confirmed absence of calcofluor-white-stainable EPS in biofilms of S. aureus 5298. Attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy combined with tribometry indicated that polysaccharide production per bacterium in the initial adhering layer was higher during growth at high shear than at low shear and that this increased EPS pro

SUBMITTER: Hou J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5734043 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature