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Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms: role of the alginate exopolysaccharide

Journal of Industrial Microbiology volume 15, pages 162–168 (1995)Cite this article

Abstract

Pseudomonas aeruginosa synthesizes an exopolysaccharide called alginate in response to environmental conditions. Alginate serves to protect the bacteria from adversity in its surroundings and also enhances adhesion to solid surfaces. Transcription of the alginate biosynthetic genes is induced upon attachment to the substratum and this leads to increased alginate production. As a result, biofilms develop which are advantageous to the survival and growth of the bacteria. In certain circimstances,P. aeruginosa produces an alginate lyase enzyme which cleaves the polymer into short oligosaccharides. This negates the anchoring properties of the alginate and results in increased detachment of the bacteria away from the surface, allowing them to spread and colonize new sites. Thus, both alginate biosynthetic and degradative enzymes are important for the development, maintenance and spread ofP. aeruginosa biofilms.

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  1. Department of Microbiology and Immunology (M/C 790), University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine, 835, South Wolcott Avenue, 60612, Chicago, Illinois, USA

    A Boyd &  A M Chakrabarty

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Boyd, A., Chakrabarty, A.M. Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms: role of the alginate exopolysaccharide. Journal of Industrial Microbiology 15, 162–168 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01569821

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Keywords

  • biofilm anchoring
  • alginate gene activation
  • biofilm detachment
  • alginate lyase