The pel polysaccharide can serve a structural and protective role in the biofilm matrix of Pseudomonas aeruginosa

• Published in: PLoS pathogens Vol. 7; no. 1; p. e1001264
• Main Authors: Colvin, Kelly M, Gordon, Vernita D, Murakami, Keiji, Borlee, Bradley R, Wozniak, Daniel J, Wong, Gerard C L, Parsek, Matthew R
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 01.01.2011; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Alginates; Anti-Bacterial Agents - pharmacology; Antimicrobial agents; Bacterial Adhesion; Bacterial Proteins - genetics; Bacterial Proteins - metabolism; Bacteriology; Biofilms; Biofilms - growth & development; Experiments; Extracellular Matrix - physiology; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; Genetic aspects; Microbial mats; Microbial polysaccharides; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Microbial Viability - drug effects; Microbiology; Microbiology/Medical Microbiology; Microbiology/Microbial Growth and Development; Operons; Physiological aspects; Polysaccharides, Bacterial - genetics; Polysaccharides, Bacterial - metabolism; Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Pseudomonas aeruginosa - drug effects; Pseudomonas aeruginosa - growth & development; Pseudomonas aeruginosa - physiology; Tobramycin - pharmacology

Bacterial extracellular polysaccharides are a key constituent of the extracellular matrix material of biofilms. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a model organism for biofilm studies and produces three extracellular polysaccharides that have been implicated in biofilm development, alginate, Psl and Pel. Sig...