Flagella-dependent inhibition of biofilm formation by sub-inhibitory concentration of polymyxin B in Vibrio cholerae

PLoS One. 2019 Aug 20;14(8):e0221431. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0221431. eCollection 2019.

Abstract

Biofilm formation is a common strategy used by bacteria in order to survive and persist in the environment. In Vibrio cholerae (V. cholerae), a Gram-negative pathogen responsible for the cholera disease, biofilm-like aggregates are important for the pathogenesis and disease transmission. Biofilm formation is initiated by the attachment of the bacteria to a surface, followed by maturation stages involving the formation of a biofilm matrix. In V. cholerae, flagella are essential for the initial step of biofilm formation, allowing the bacteria to swim and to detect a surface. In this study, we explored the effect of polymyxin B (PmB), a cationic bacterial antimicrobial peptide, on biofilm formation in pathogenic V. cholerae strains belonging to the O1 and O139 serotypes. We found that sub-inhibitory concentration of PmB induces a reduction of the biofilm formation by V. cholerae O1 and O139. Experiment on preformed biofilm demonstrated that the biofilm formation inhibition occurs at the initial step of biofilm formation, where the flagella are essential. We further characterize the effect of PmB on V. cholerae flagellation. Our results demonstrate that the flagellin expression is not reduced in presence of sub-inhibitory concentration of PmB. However, a decrease of the abundance of flagellin associated with the bacterial cells together with an increase in the secretome was observed. Electron microscopy observations also suggest that the abundance of aflagellated bacteria increases upon PmB supplementation. Finally, in agreement with the effect on the flagellation, a reduction of the bacterial motility is observed. Altogether, our results suggest that the PmB affect V. cholerae flagella resulting in a decrease of the motility and a compromised ability to form biofilm.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / pharmacology
  • Bacterial Adhesion / drug effects
  • Biofilms / drug effects
  • Biofilms / growth & development*
  • Flagella / metabolism*
  • Flagellin / metabolism
  • Genes, Bacterial
  • Movement
  • Polymyxin B / pharmacology*
  • Vibrio cholerae O1 / drug effects
  • Vibrio cholerae O1 / growth & development
  • Vibrio cholerae O1 / physiology*
  • Vibrio cholerae O1 / ultrastructure

Substances

  • Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides
  • Flagellin
  • Polymyxin B

Grants and funding

This research was supported by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC http://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/index_eng.asp) Discovery grant (RGPIN-2017-05322 - M.D). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.