Surfactin accelerates Bacillus subtilis pellicle biofilm development

Biofilm, vol. 9, pp. 100249

Abstract

isolates and found that one, MB9_B4, was significantly delayed in pellicle formation by approximately 10 h. MB9_B4 was previously noted to lack robust surfactin production. Indeed, deletion of surfactin synthesis in the other isolates delayed pellicle formation. Further, pellicle delay was rescued by addition of exogeneous surfactin. Testing reporters of biofilm-related gene expression revealed that induction of pellicle formation was caused by a combination of increased gene expression of one of the biofilm components and promotion of growth.

Authors 4

1. Rune Overlund Stannius Aachen Institute of Biology Leiden

   Leiden University · Technical University of Denmark

   Affiliation as printed

   DTU Bioengineering, Technical University of Denmark, 2800, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark

   Institute of Biology Leiden, Leiden University, 2333, BE, Leiden, Netherlands

2. Sarah Fusco

   Technical University of Denmark

   Affiliation as printed

   DTU Bioengineering, Technical University of Denmark, 2800, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark

3. Michael S. Cowled

   Technical University of Denmark

   Affiliation as printed

   DTU Bioengineering, Technical University of Denmark, 2800, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark

4. Ákos T. Kovács Aachen Institute of Biology Leiden

   Leiden University · Technical University of Denmark

   Affiliation as printed

   DTU Bioengineering, Technical University of Denmark, 2800, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark

   Institute of Biology Leiden, Leiden University, 2333, BE, Leiden, Netherlands