Flagellin and F4 fimbriae have opposite effects on biofilm formation and quorum sensing in F4ac+ enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli

Vet Microbiol. 2014 Jan 10;168(1):148-53. doi: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2013.10.014. Epub 2013 Oct 26.

Abstract

Bacteria that form biofilms are often highly resistant to antibiotics and are capable of evading the host immune system. To evaluate the role of flagellin and F4 fimbriae on biofilm formation by enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC), we deleted the fliC (encoding the major flagellin protein) and/or the faeG (encoding the major subunit of F4 fimbriae) genes from ETEC C83902. Biofilm formation was reduced in the fliC mutant but increased in the faeG mutant, as compared with the wild-type strain. The expression of AI-2 quorum sensing associated genes was regulated in the fliC and faeG mutants, consistent with the biofilm formation of these strains. But, deleting fliC and/or faeG also inhibited AI-2 quorum sensing activity.

Keywords: Biofilm formation; F4 fimbriae; Flagellin; Quorum sensing.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antigens, Bacterial / genetics
  • Antigens, Bacterial / metabolism*
  • Biofilms*
  • Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli / genetics
  • Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli / metabolism
  • Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli / physiology*
  • Escherichia coli Proteins / genetics
  • Escherichia coli Proteins / metabolism*
  • Fimbriae Proteins / genetics
  • Fimbriae Proteins / metabolism*
  • Flagellin / genetics
  • Flagellin / metabolism*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial / genetics
  • Mutation
  • Quorum Sensing / genetics*

Substances

  • Antigens, Bacterial
  • Escherichia coli Proteins
  • K88 antigen, E coli
  • Flagellin
  • Fimbriae Proteins