Biofilm Spreading by the Adhesin-Dependent Gliding Motility of Flavobacterium johnsoniae. 1. Internal Structure of the Biofilm.

ABSTRACT: The Gram-negative bacterium Flavobacterium johnsoniae employs gliding motility to move rapidly over solid surfaces. Gliding involves the movement of the adhesin SprB along the cell surface. F. johnsoniae spreads on nutrient-poor 1% agar-PY2, forming a thin film-like colony. We used electron microscopy and time-lapse fluorescence microscopy to investigate the structure of colonies formed by wild-type (WT) F. johnsoniae and by the sprB mutant (ΔsprB). In both cases, the bacteria were buried in the extracellular polymeric matrix (EPM) covering the top of the colony. In the spreading WT colonies, the EPM included a thick fiber framework and vesicles, revealing the formation of a biofilm, which is probably required for the spreading movement. Specific paths that were followed by bacterial clust

SUBMITTER: Sato K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7918930 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature