The Bep gene cluster in Burkholderia cenocepacia H111 codes for a water-insoluble exopolysaccharide essential for biofilm formation.

ABSTRACT: Burkholderia cenocepacia is an opportunistic pathogen isolated from cystic fibrosis patients where it causes infections that are extremely difficult to treat with antibiotics, and sometimes have a fatal outcome. Biofilm is a virulence trait of B. cenocepacia, and is associated with infection persistence and increased tolerance to antibiotics. In biofilms exopolysaccharides have an important role, conferring mechanical stability and antibiotic tolerance. Two different exopolysaccharides were isolated from B. cenocepacia H111 biofilms: a water-soluble polysaccharide rich in rhamnose and containing an L-Man residue, and a water-insoluble polymer made of glucose, galactose and mannose. In the present work, the product encoded by B. cenocepacia H111 bepA-L gene cluster was identified as the wat

SUBMITTER: Bellich B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9713610 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature