Vibrio cholerae O1 El Tor: Identification of a gene cluster required for the rugose colony type, exopolysaccharide production, chlorine resistance, and biofilm formation

  1. Fitnat H. Yildiz and
  2. Gary K. Schoolnik*
  1. Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases and Geographic Medicine, and Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University Medical School, Beckman Center, Room 239, Stanford, CA 94305

  1. Communicated by Emil C. Gotschlich, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY (received for review November 5, 1998)

Abstract

The rugose colony variant of Vibrio cholerae O1, biotype El Tor, is shown to produce an exopolysaccharide, EPSETr, that confers chlorine resistance and biofilm-forming capacity. EPSETr production requires a chromosomal locus, vps, that contains sequences homologous to carbohydrate biosynthesis genes of other bacterial species. Mutations within this locus yield chlorine-sensitive, smooth colony variants that are biofilm deficient. The biofilm-forming properties of EPSETr may enable the survival of V. cholerae O1 within environmental aquatic habitats between outbreaks of human disease.

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  1. PNAS March 30, 1999 vol. 96 no. 7 4028-4033
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