The Bep gene cluster in Burkholderia cenocepacia H111 codes for a water-insoluble exopolysaccharide essential for biofilm formation

Burkholderia cenocepacia is an opportunistic pathogen isolated from cystic fibrosis patients where it causes infections that are extremely difficult to treat with antibiotics, and sometimes have a fatal outcome. Biofilm is a virulence trait of B. cenocepacia, and is associated with infection persist...

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Published inCarbohydrate polymers Vol. 301; no. Pt A; p. 120318
Main Authors Bellich, Barbara, Terán, Lucrecia C., Fazli, Magnus M., Berti, Francesco, Rizzo, Roberto, Tolker-Nielsen, Tim, Cescutti, Paola
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published England Elsevier Ltd 01.02.2023
Subjects
Anti-Bacterial Agents
bepA-L gene cluster
Biofilm
Biofilms
Burkholderia cenocepacia
Burkholderia cenocepacia - genetics
Exopolysaccharide structure
Humans
Multigene Family
NMR spectroscopy
Polysaccharides
Water
YEM
H111-INS
Burkholderia cenocepacia
Exopolysaccharide structure
Epol
HR-MAS
Rha
TFA
bepA-L gene cluster
NYG
CGD
Bcc
CF
GLC-MS
H111-SOL
UndPP
Bep
GT
TMH
Gal
H111 WT
LB
Biofilm
Man
NMR spectroscopy
Glc
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Summary:Burkholderia cenocepacia is an opportunistic pathogen isolated from cystic fibrosis patients where it causes infections that are extremely difficult to treat with antibiotics, and sometimes have a fatal outcome. Biofilm is a virulence trait of B. cenocepacia, and is associated with infection persistence and increased tolerance to antibiotics. In biofilms exopolysaccharides have an important role, conferring mechanical stability and antibiotic tolerance. Two different exopolysaccharides were isolated from B. cenocepacia H111 biofilms: a water-soluble polysaccharide rich in rhamnose and containing an L-Man residue, and a water-insoluble polymer made of glucose, galactose and mannose. In the present work, the product encoded by B. cenocepacia H111 bepA-L gene cluster was identified as the water-insoluble exopolysaccharide, using mutant strains and NMR spectroscopy of the purified polysaccharides. It was also demonstrated that the B. cenocepacia H111 wild type strain produces the water-insoluble exopolysaccharide in pellicles, thus underlining its potential importance in in vivo infections. [Display omitted]
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ISSN:0144-8617
1879-1344
DOI:10.1016/j.carbpol.2022.120318