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Expression of the lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis gene lpxD affects biofilm formation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa

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Abstract

Bacterial biofilms are an important cause of nosocomial infections. Microorganisms such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa colonize biotic and abiotic surfaces leading to chronic infections that are difficult to eradicate. To characterize novel genes involved in biofilm formation, we identified the lpxD gene from a transposon-mutant library of P. aeruginosa. This gene encodes a glucosamine-N acyltransferase, which is important for lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis. Our results showed that a loss-of-expression mutant of lpxD was defective for biofilm formation on biotic and abiotic surfaces. Additionally, this mutant strain exhibited significantly decreased bacterial attachment to cultured airway epithelial cells, as well as increased bacterial cytotoxicity toward airway cells. However, consistent with a defect in lipid A structure, airway cells incubated with the lpxD mutant or with mutant lipid A extracts exhibited decreased IL-8 production and necrosis, respectively. Overall, our data indicate that manipulating lpxD expression may influence P. aeruginosa’s ability to establish biofilm infections.

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Acknowledgments

S. Alshalchi was supported by the Institute of International Education and Scholar Rescue. This work was also supported by Research Support Funds Grant (RSFG) from IUPUI and Purdue Research Fund (PRF) from Purdue University to G. Anderson.

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The authors state that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, 723 West Michigan Street, SL 320, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA

    Sahar A. Alshalchi & Gregory G. Anderson

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  1. Sahar A. Alshalchi
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  2. Gregory G. Anderson
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Correspondence to Gregory G. Anderson.

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Communicated by Erko Stackebrandt.

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Alshalchi, S.A., Anderson, G.G. Expression of the lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis gene lpxD affects biofilm formation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa . Arch Microbiol 197, 135–145 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00203-014-1030-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00203-014-1030-y

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