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Copper susceptibility in Acinetobacter junii BB1A is related to the production of extracellular polymeric substances

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Abstract

Acinetobacter junii BB1A cells, grown in different media, were differentially inhibited in the presence of the copper. The minimum inhibitory concentration of Cu2+ was influenced by the nutrient status of the media. The production of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) was stimulated by the copper present in the growth medium. The nature of the EPS was anionic showing non-Newtonian pseudoplastic behaviour. The thermal behaviour of the EPS was studied by differential scanning calorimetry. The EPS was amorphous in nature with a crystalline index of 0.16. Scanning electron micrographs revealed its porous structure. Cells grown in the presence of quorum sensing inhibitor (QSI: 4-Nitropyridine-N-oxide) did not produce EPS and were found to be more sensitive to Cu2+ than cells which produced EPS in the absence of QSI. EPS production in different media in the presence and absence of Cu2+ was determined. The production of EPS was the highest in brain heart Infusion medium and the lowest in AB minimal medium. The sorption of Cu2+ by EPS extracted from cells grown in non-copper-complexing AB medium was demonstrated by energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. A pertinent functional aspect of EPS in providing protection to A. junii in copper stress condition has been revealed.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by a research grant from University Grant Commisssion, India [F. No. 41-558/2012 (SR); dated: 18 July 2012]. KKY was self supported for Ph.D. One of the authors, AKM was provided with independent Ph.D fellowships (NBU-JRF/3726/R-2007). The authors are thankful to Ipsita Kumar Sen, Syed Sirajul Islam, Bhaskar Bhadra and Suchitra Sarkar for their intellectual input; to Chandanashis Laha, Department of English, NBU, for his effort to improve the language of this paper, and to Soumyananda Chakraborty, Bose Institute, India, for conducting the EDX study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Omics Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology, University of North Bengal, P.O. NBU, Siliguri, 734013, West Bengal, India

    Krishna Kant Yadav, Amit Kumar Mandal & Ranadhir Chakraborty

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  1. Krishna Kant Yadav
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  2. Amit Kumar Mandal
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  3. Ranadhir Chakraborty
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Correspondence to Ranadhir Chakraborty.

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Krishna Kant Yadav and Ranadhir Chakraborty have contributed equally to the study.

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Yadav, K.K., Mandal, A.K. & Chakraborty, R. Copper susceptibility in Acinetobacter junii BB1A is related to the production of extracellular polymeric substances. Antonie van Leeuwenhoek 104, 261–269 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10482-013-9946-9

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