Secreted single-stranded DNA is involved in the initial phase of biofilm formation by Neisseria gonorrhoeae - Research portal of Justus Liebig University Giessen:

Journal article

Secreted single-stranded DNA is involved in the initial phase of biofilm formation by Neisseria gonorrhoeae

Authors list: Zweig, M; Schork, S; Koerdt, A; Siewering, K; Sternberg, C; Thormann, K; Albers, SV; Molin, S; van der Does, C

Publication year: 2014

Pages: 1040-1052

Journal: Environmental Microbiology

Volume number: 16

Issue number: 4

ISSN: 1462-2912

DOI Link: https://doi.org/10.1111/1462-2920.12291

Publisher: Wiley

Abstract:
Neisseria gonorrhoeae is an obligate human pathogen that colonizes the genital tract and causes gonorrhoea. Neisseria gonorrhoeae can form biofilms during natural cervical infections, on glass and in continuous flow-chamber systems. These biofilms contain large amounts of extracellular DNA, which plays an important role in biofilm formation. Many clinical isolates contain a gonococcal genetic island that encodes a type IV secretion system (T4SS). The T4SS of N. gonorrhoeae strain MS11 secretes ssDNA directly into the medium. Biofilm formation, studied in continuous flow-chamber systems by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), was strongly reduced, especially in the initial phases of biofilm formation, in the presence of Exonuclease I, which specifically degrades ssDNA or in a Delta traB strain that does not secrete ssDNA. To specifically detect ssDNA in biofilms using CLSM, a novel method was developed in which thermostable fluorescently labelled ssDNA- and ss/dsDNA-binding proteins were used to visualize ssDNA and total DNA in biofilms and planktonic cultures. Remarkably, mainly dsDNA was detected in biofilms of the ssDNA secreting strain. We conclude that the secreted ssDNA facilitates initial biofilm formation, but that the secreted ssDNA is not retained in mature biofilms.

Authors/Editors

- Uni.-Prof. Dr. Kai Martin Thormann

Citation Styles

Harvard Citation style: Zweig, M., Schork, S., Koerdt, A., Siewering, K., Sternberg, C., Thormann, K., et al. (2014) Secreted single-stranded DNA is involved in the initial phase of biofilm formation by Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Environmental Microbiology, 16(4), pp. 1040-1052. https://doi.org/10.1111/1462-2920.12291

APA Citation style: Zweig, M., Schork, S., Koerdt, A., Siewering, K., Sternberg, C., Thormann, K., Albers, S., Molin, S., & van der Does, C. (2014). Secreted single-stranded DNA is involved in the initial phase of biofilm formation by Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Environmental Microbiology. 16(4), 1040-1052. https://doi.org/10.1111/1462-2920.12291