Biofilm formation by Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato

• Published in: FEMS microbiology letters Vol. 362; no. 15; p. fnv120
• Main Authors: Timmaraju, Venkata Arun, Theophilus, Priyanka A. S., Balasubramanian, Kunthavai, Shakih, Shafiq, Luecke, David F., Sapi, Eva
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Oxford University Press 01.08.2015
• Subjects: Atomic force microscopy; Biofilms; Biofilms - growth & development; Borrelia; Borrelia - classification; Borrelia - physiology; Borrelia - ultrastructure; Borrelia burgdorferi; Borrelia burgdorferi - physiology; Borrelia burgdorferi - ultrastructure; Borrelia burgdorferi Group - physiology; Borrelia burgdorferi Group - ultrastructure; Europe; Exopolysaccharides; Histochemistry; Lyme disease; Lyme Disease - microbiology; Microbial activity; Microbiology; Microorganisms; Microscopy; Microscopy, Atomic Force; Nucleic acids; Phenotype; Polysaccharides; Polysaccharides, Bacterial - physiology; Saccharides; United States; Vector-borne diseases; United States; Europe; atomic force microscopy; EPS; biofilm; Borrelia afzelii; Borrelia burgdorferi; Borrelia garinii
• ISSN: 1574-6968; 0378-1097; 1574-6968
• DOI: 10.1093/femsle/fnv120

Bacterial biofilms are microbial communities held together by an extracellular polymeric substance matrix predominantly composed of polysaccharides, proteins and nucleic acids. We had previously shown that Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto, the causative organism of Lyme disease in the United States is capable of forming biofilms in vitro. Here, we investigated biofilm formation by B. afzelii and B. garinii, which cause Lyme disease in Europe. Using various histochemistry and microscopy techniques, we show that B. afzelii and B. garinii form biofilms, which resemble biofilms formed by B. burgdorferi sensu stricto. High-resolution atomic force microscopy revealed similarities in the ultrastructural organization of the biofilms form by three Borrelia species. Histochemical experiments revealed a heterogeneous organization of exopolysaccharides among the three Borrelia species. These results suggest that biofilm formation might be a common trait of Borrelia genera physiology. Lyme spirochetes form biofilms.