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Phenotypic Heterogeneity in Biofilm Consortia of E. coli

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Abstract

In this study, a total of seventeen (17) waterborne, biofilm-producing isolates of Escherichia coli were used. The population analysis showed that biofilm consortia harbour three different phenotypes e.g. smooth surface phenotypes (SSP), rough surface phenotypes (RSP) and small colony variants (SCVs). The SSP was hydrophilic and the initiator of biofilm formation processes in response to environmental stress. The RSP exhibited hydrophobic properties and occupy the core of biofilm consortia. They were slow-growing and produced a high quantity of exopolysaccharides as compared to SSP and SCVs. The highly adhesive and hydrophobic SCVs appeared after 48 h of incubation and occupy the lower base of biofilm consortia. They were metabolically inactive and difficult to disperse after adhesion. Our experiments show that all the subject isolates of E. coli carry wcaF and flu gene. Besides, the comparative analysis showed that wcaF and flu gene expression was high in RSP. These phenotypes activate wcaF and flu genes to produce extracellular matrix material to persist in biofilm consortium. Comparative analysis showed the biofilm formation was initiated by SSP while the RSP and SCVs was a product of a cruel environment and has a major role in the stability and persistence of consortia.

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We are thankful to Mr. Yousf Khan, Laboratory Engineer, Central Research Laboratory, University of Karachi, for providing Scanning Electron Microscopy and RT-PCR facilities. We are also thankful to Molecular Laboratory of DOW University of Heath Science Karachi for providing technical support RT-PCR for this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Microbiology Section, PCSIR Laboratories Complex , Karachi, Pakistan

    Z. A. Mirani, Sh. Urooj, A. Ullah, M. N. Khan & A. B. Khan

  2. Department of Life Sciences, Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Institute of Science and Technology, Karachi, Pakistan

    Sh. Urooj

  3. Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Food Nutrition and Human Health, Beijing Technology and Business University (BTBU), 100048, Beijing, China

    A. Ullah, A. Mehmood & W. Fenghuan

  4. School of Light Industry, Beijing Technology and Business University (BTBU), 100048, Beijing, China

    A. Ullah, A. Mehmood & W. Fenghuan

  5. PCSIR, Islamabad, Pakistan

    N. Rauf & I. A. Shaikh

  6. Department of Microbiology, University of Karachi, Karachi, Pakistan

    Sh. Urooj

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  1. Z. A. Mirani
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Mirani, Z.A., Urooj, S., Ullah, A. et al. Phenotypic Heterogeneity in Biofilm Consortia of E. coli . Microbiology 90, 237–246 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1134/S0026261721020089

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