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Increased mutability of staphylococci in biofilms as a consequence of oxidative stress

ABSTRACT: In this work we have demonstrated increased mutability of Staphylococcus aureus and S. epidermidis in biofilms and have explored the mechanisms underlying the enhanced mutability. A novel static biofilm model, utilising cellulose filter disks, was developed to support the formation of mature biofilms with sufficiently high cell densities to permit determination of mutation frequencies. The mutability of biofilm cultures increased up to 60 fold and 4 fold for S. aureus and S. epidermidis, respectively, compared with planktonic cultures. Incorporation of antioxidants into S. aureus biofilms reduced mutation frequencies, indicating that increased oxidative stress underlies increased mutability in the biofilm. Transcriptional profiling revealed upregulation of the superoxide dismutase gene, sodA, in early biofilm cultures, also suggesting enhanced oxidative stress in these cultures. However, loss of the genes encoding superoxide dismutases or peroxidases did not specifically exacerabate biofilm mutability. In S. aureus SH1000, hydrogen peroxide was found to contribute to biofilm mutability.

ORGANISM(S): Staphylococcus aureus subsp. aureus NCTC 8325 Staphylococcus aureus

PROVIDER: GSE35837 | GEO | 2012/03/01

SECONDARY ACCESSION(S): PRJNA151965

REPOSITORIES: GEO

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Project description:Is there a universal genetically programmed defense providing tolerance to antibiotics when bacteria grow as biofilms? A comparison between biofilms of three different bacterial species by transcriptomic and metabolomic approaches uncovered no evidence of one. Single-species biofilms of three bacterial species (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, and Acinetobacter baumannii) were grown in vitro for three days then challenged with respective antibiotics (ciprofloxacin, daptomycin, tigecycline) for an additional 24 h. All three microorganisms displayed reduced susceptibility in biofilms compared to planktonic cultures. Global transcriptomic profiling of gene expression comparing biofilm to planktonic and antibiotic-treated biofilm to untreated biofilm was performed. Extracellular metabolites including 18 amino acids, glucose, lactate, acetate, formate, and ethanol were measured to characterize the utilization of carbon sources between biofilms, treated biofilms, and planktonic cells. While all three bacteria exhibited a species-specific signature of stationary phase, no conserved gene, gene set, or common functional pathway could be identified that changed consistently across the three microorganisms. Across the three species, glucose consumption was increased in biofilms compared to planktonic cells and alanine and aspartic acid utilization were decreased in biofilms compared to planktonic cells. The reasons for these changes were not readily apparent in the transcriptomes. No common shift in the utilization pattern of carbon sources was discerned when comparing untreated to antibiotic-exposed biofilms. Overall, our measurements do not support the existence of a common genetic or biochemical basis for biofilm tolerance against antibiotics. Rather, there are likely myriad genes, proteins, and metabolic pathways that influence the physiological state of microorganisms in biofilms contributing to antibiotic tolerance. The Staphylococcus aureus microarray data from the study described above is deposited here.

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Increased mutability of staphylococci in biofilms as a consequence of oxidative stress

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