Involvement of NADH Oxidase in Biofilm Formation in Streptococcus sanguinis

Authors

Xiuchun Ge, Virginia Commonwealth University
Xiaoli Shi, Chinese Academy of Science
Limei Shi, Chinese Academy of Science
Jinlin Liu, Virginia Commonwealth University
Victoria Stone, Virginia Commonwealth University
Fanxiang Kong, Chinese Academy of Science
Todd Kitten, Virginia Commonwealth University
Ping Xu, Virginia Commonwealth UniversityFollow

Document Type

Article

Original Publication Date

2016

Journal/Book/Conference Title

PLOS ONE

Volume

11

Issue

3

DOI

10.1371/journal.pone.0151142

Comments

Originally published at http://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0151142.

Date of Submission

November 2016

Abstract

Biofilms play important roles in microbial communities and are related to infectious diseases. Here, we report direct evidence that a bacterial nox gene encoding NADH oxidase is involved in biofilm formation. A dramatic reduction in biofilm formation was observed in a Streptococcus sanguinis nox mutant under anaerobic conditions without any decrease in growth. The membrane fluidity of the mutant bacterial cells was found to be decreased and the fatty acid composition altered, with increased palmitic acid and decreased stearic acid and vaccenic acid. Extracellular DNA of the mutant was reduced in abundance and bacterial competence was suppressed. Gene expression analysis in the mutant identified two genes with altered expression, gtfP and Idh, which were found to be related to biofilm formation through examination of their deletion mutants. NADH oxidase-related metabolic pathways were analyzed, further clarifying the function of this enzyme in biofilm formation.

Rights

Copyright: © 2016 Ge et al.

Is Part Of

VCU Microbiology and Immunology Publications