Open AccessTwo type IV pili of Vibrio parahaemolyticus play different roles in biofilm formation
Author(s) -
ShimeHattori Akiko,
Iida Tetsuya,
Arita Michiko,
Park KwonSam,
Kodama Toshio,
Honda Takeshi
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
fems microbiology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.899
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1574-6968
pISSN - 0378-1097
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-6968.2006.00438.x
Subject(s) - pilus , pilin , biofilm , vibrio parahaemolyticus , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , mutant , bacteria , vibrio cholerae , fimbria , pseudomonas aeruginosa , virulence , gene , biochemistry , genetics
Vibrio parahaemolyticus RIMD2210633 has two sets of type IV‐A pilus genes. One set is similar to that found in other Gram‐negative bacteria, such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa , Vibrio cholerae (chitin‐regulated pilus; ChiRP), and Vibrio vulnificus . The other is homologous to the genes for the mannose‐sensitive hemagglutinin (MSHA) pilus. In this study, we analyzed the effects of the deletions in the pilin genes for each type IV pilus (the ChiRP and the MSHA pilus) on biofilm formation. Although the MSHA pilin mutant formed aggregates, the number of bacteria that attached directly to the coverslip was reduced, suggesting that this pilus contributes to the bacterial attachment to the surface of the coverslip. In contrast, the ChiRP mutant attached to the surface of the coverslip, but did not form aggregates, suggesting that ChiRP plays a role in bacterial agglutination during biofilm formation. These results suggest that the two type IV pili of V. parahaemolyticus contribute to biofilm formation in different ways. Both mutants showed a lower fitness for adsorption onto chitin particles than that of the wild type. Collectively, these data suggest that the use of two type IV pili is a refined strategy of V. parahaemolyticus for survival in natural environments.