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Transcriptomic Analysis for Genetic Mechanisms of the Factors Related to Biofilm Formation in Escherichia coli O157:H7

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Abstract

Two lineages of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157:H7 (EDL933, Stx1+ and Stx2+) and 86-24 (Stx2+) were investigated to determine the genetic basis of biofilm formation on abiotic surfaces. Strain EDL933 formed a robust biofilm while strain 86-24 formed almost no biofilm on either polystyrene plates or polyethylene tubes. Whole-transcriptome profiles of EDL933 versus 86-24 revealed that in the strong biofilm-forming strain, genes involved in curli biosynthesis and cellulose production were significantly induced, whereas genes involved in indole signaling were most repressed. Additionally, 49 phage genes were highly induced and repressed between the two strains. Curli assays using Congo red plates and scanning electron microscopy corroborated the microarray data as the EDL933 strain produced a large amount of curli, while strain 86-24 formed much less curli. Moreover, EDL933 produced 19-fold more cellulose than 86-24, and indole production in EDL933 was two times lower than that of the strain 86-24. Therefore, it appears E. coli O157:H7 EDL933 produces more biofilm because of its increased curli and cellulose production and reduced indole production.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by the Yeungnam University research grant in 2009, and the Human Resources Development Program (R&D Workforce Cultivation Track for Solar Cell Materials and Processes) of Korea Institute of Energy Technology Evaluation and Planning (KETEP) grant (No. 20104010100580) funded by the Korean Ministry of Knowledge Economy. T. Wood is the T. Michael O’Connor endowed chair and is also supported by the NIH (R01 GM089999).

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  1. School of Chemical Engineering, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan-si Gyeongsangbuk-do, 712-749, Korea

    Jin-Hyung Lee, Yong-Guy Kim, Moo Hwan Cho & Jintae Lee

  2. Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas A&M University, 220 Jack E. Brown Building, College Station, TX, 77843-3122, USA

    Thomas K. Wood

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  1. Jin-Hyung Lee
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Correspondence to Thomas K. Wood or Jintae Lee.

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Lee, JH., Kim, YG., Cho, M.H. et al. Transcriptomic Analysis for Genetic Mechanisms of the Factors Related to Biofilm Formation in Escherichia coli O157:H7. Curr Microbiol 62, 1321–1330 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00284-010-9862-4

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