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Flagella-mediated motility is required for biofilm formation by Erwinia carotovora subsp. carotovora

  • BACTERIAL AND PHYTOPLASMA DISEASES
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Abstract

To elucidate the role of flagella in biofilm formation by Erwinia carotovora subsp. carotovora EC1, we used a nonflagellate, nonmotile mutant (ΔfliC) and a flagellate, nonmotile mutant (ΔmotA). A biofilm-inducing medium, which contains the yeast peptone (YP) medium plus the salts of M-63 minimal medium, supported biofilm formation to a greater extent than either the YP or Luria Bertani (LB) medium alone. We demonstrated that both the ΔfliC and ΔmotA mutants greatly reduced their ability to form a biofilm on the surface of the wells of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) microtiter plates. The inability of both mutants to form biofilm on the PVC surface was further confirmed with phase-contrast microscopy. Both aflagellate (ΔfliC) and flagellate (ΔmotA) nonmotile mutants were equally defective in attachment to the PVC surface. The treatment of bacteria with the protonophore carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone (CCCP), which inhibits the motility of this organism, reduced greatly the biofilm formation. Based on these results, flagella-mediated motility may play an important role in biofilm formation of E. carotovora subsp. carotovora EC1.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Agriculture, Shizuoka University, Gifu United Graduate School of Agriculture, Shizuoka, Japan

    Md Mijan Hossain

  2. Laboratory of Plant Pathology, Faculty of Agriculture, Shizuoka University, 836 Ohya, Suruga-ku, Shizuoka, 422-8529, Japan

    Shinji Tsuyumu

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  1. Md Mijan Hossain
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  2. Shinji Tsuyumu
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Correspondence to Shinji Tsuyumu.

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Hossain, M., Tsuyumu, S. Flagella-mediated motility is required for biofilm formation by Erwinia carotovora subsp. carotovora. J Gen Plant Pathol 72, 34–39 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10327-005-0246-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10327-005-0246-8

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