Vibrio cholerae O1 El Tor: Identification of a Gene Cluster Required for the Rugose Colony Type, Exopolysaccharide Production, Chlorine Resistance, and Biofilm Formation

• Published in: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences - PNAS Vol. 96; no. 7; pp. 4028 - 4033
• Main Authors: Yildiz, Fitnat H., Schoolnik, Gary K.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 30.03.1999; National Acad Sciences; The National Academy of Sciences
• Subjects: Aquatic habitats; Bacteria; Biofilms; Biological Sciences; Biosynthesis; Chlorine; Chlorine - pharmacology; Cholera; Drug Resistance, Microbial - genetics; Genes, Bacterial; Genetic Variation; Humans; Molecular Sequence Data; Multigene Family; Phenotypes; Polysaccharides; Polysaccharides, Bacterial - biosynthesis; Polysaccharides, Bacterial - genetics; Ruthenium; Vibrio cholerae; Vibrio cholerae - drug effects; Vibrio cholerae - genetics; Vibrio cholerae - physiology; Vibrio cholerae - ultrastructure; Water Microbiology
• ISSN: 0027-8424; 1091-6490
• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.96.7.4028

The rugose colony variant of Vibrio cholerae O1, biotype El Tor, is shown to produce an exopolysaccharide, EPSETr, that confers chlorine resistance and biofilm-forming capacity. EPSETrproduction requires a chromosomal locus, vps, that contains sequences homologous to carbohydrate biosynthesis genes of other bacterial species. Mutations within this locus yield chlorine-sensitive, smooth colony variants that are biofilm deficient. The biofilm-forming properties of EPSETrmay enable the survival of V. cholerae O1 within environmental aquatic habitats between outbreaks of human disease.