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Influence of twitching and swarming motilities on biofilm formation in Pseudomonas strains

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Abstract

The genus Pseudomonas mainly includes opportunistic pathogens that rely on type IV pili as an important virulence factor, which is associated with adherence and biofilm formation. Pseudomonas infections are well known to be persistent and resilient in nature largely because of the tendency of the species to form biofilms. This study aimed at analyzing environmental strains of Pseudomonas genus with respect to their ability to execute twitching and swarming motilities as well as with respect to their ability to form biofilms both in the presence as well as in the absence of furanone, a substance that has the potential to prevent the formation of biofilms. Strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and strains belonging to other species of the genus were analyzed. Twitching and swarming motility assays and biofilm-formation assays, both in the presence as well as in the absence of furanone, were performed. In twitching assay strains belonging to P. aeruginosa outperformed those belonging to other species. Interestingly, it was seen that the presence of furanone had a negative impact on formation of twitching and swarming motility zones. In the case of biofilm assays, it was observed that the presence of furanone resulted in an observable decrease in the degree of adhesion in 30% of the analyzed strains. Thus, from our results, it can be concluded that, as compared to other species, the strains belonging to P. aeruginosa exhibit a higher potential for twitching motility and similar performance in swarming motility and biofilm formation. It can also be concluded that furanone has the potential to interfere with both motilities as well as with biofilm formation.

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Acknowledgements

Funding was provided by CAPES (Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Institute of Basic Health Science, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Sarmento Leite, 500, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, CEP 90050-170, Brazil

    Letícia Muner Otton, Marina da Silva Campos, Karine Lena Meneghetti & Gertrudes Corção

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  1. Letícia Muner Otton
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  2. Marina da Silva Campos
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  3. Karine Lena Meneghetti
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  4. Gertrudes Corção
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Correspondence to Gertrudes Corção.

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Communicated by Djamel DRIDER.

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Otton, L.M., da Silva Campos, M., Meneghetti, K.L. et al. Influence of twitching and swarming motilities on biofilm formation in Pseudomonas strains. Arch Microbiol 199, 677–682 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00203-017-1344-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00203-017-1344-7

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