Escherichia coli O157:H7 Requires Colonizing Partner to Adhere and Persist in a Capillary Flow Cell

Abstract

Bacteria exist in nature primarily in communities known as biofilms. These biofilms are usually characterized by differentiated structures, exhibit a different phenotype than their planktonic counterparts, and in nature most often consist of multispecies consortia (1, 2). An important process in shaping the formation and structure of some multispecies biofilms is the ability of certain species to coaggregate. In this process, planktonic cells adhere to genetically distinct cells in a biofilm or to other planktonic cells (3), thereby increasing biofilm formation. This process is growth-phase-dependent and is turned on and off by cells, suggestive that it may also play a role in dispersal and dissemination (4). Due to these and other complexities of the biofilm mode of growth, multiple species can coexist despite one organism having a much higher growth rate than another (5-7). In many cases, bacteria have been shown to gain a fitness advantage when residing in a mixed-species versus single-

High prevalence of biofilm synergy among bacterial soil isolates in cocultures indicates bacterial interspecific cooperation

“…This shifting of biofilm pattern from weak to moderate or strong can be the result of metabolic interactions (Møller et al, 1998), enhanced coaggregation (Rickard et al, 2003), organized spatial distribution (Skillman et al, 1998) and/or facilitated initial surface attachment (Simões et al, 2008;Klayman et al, 2009), for example, bridging bacteria may facilitate the association of other species that do not coaggregate directly with each other. Thus, species that do not form biofilms as single strains may benefit from the advantages associated with biofilm formation, including enhanced protection from external stress and expanded niche availability, through engagement with multispecies communities.…”

“…Likewise, Diaz et al (2012) revealed a synergistic partnership between Candida albicans and streptococci in which C. albicans improved the ability of streptococci to form biofilms on abiotic surfaces and on an oral mucosa analog (Diaz et al, 2012). In addition, several studies have shown that some species that are unable to form biofilms in isolation can promote mixed-species biofilm biomass (Filoche et al, 2004;Sharma et al, 2005;Yamada et al, 2005;Klayman et al, 2009). In a recent study, Lee et al (2014) addressed the protective effect of the resistant species in a three-species biofilm.…”

Cells of Escherichia coli are protected against severe chemical stress by co-habiting cell aggregates formed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa

“…Regarding biotechnology, E. coli is a frequently used bacterium for catalyzing biotechnological processes (Huang et al 2012). In addition, laboratory experiments showing potential interactions of P. aeruginosa and E. coli during biofilm formation have been described (Klayman et al 2009;Cerqueira et al 2013). For the third requirement, we utilized bacterial bioluminescence as a viability marker for E. coli.…”

Antibiofilm Strategies in the Food Industry

“…The adhesion and biofilm formation ability of E. coli O157:H7 on diverse food contact surfaces existent in the meat industry has been investigated, and it was observed that these bacteria adhered to and developed biofilms on such materials, even at low temperatures (Dourou et al 2011). It was also found that the adhesion of these bacteria was affected by the existence of other microbes on the surfaces (Klayman et al 2009;Marouani-Gadri et al 2009). As an example, a study conducted by Habimana and coworkers (2010) showed that E. coli O157:H7 cells were entrenched and enclosed in an Acinetobacter calcoaceticus biofilm, which is in agreement with several other reports that demonstrated multispecies biofilms enhanced the chances for pathogens to flourish in food processing environments (Habimana et al 2010;Stewart and Franklin 2008).…”