Open AccessCharacterization of Colony Morphology Variants Isolated fromStreptococcus pneumoniaeBiofilms
Author(s) -
Magee Allegrucci,
Karin Sauer
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
journal of bacteriology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.652
H-Index - 246
eISSN - 1067-8832
pISSN - 0021-9193
DOI - 10.1128/jb.01369-06
Subject(s) - biofilm , biology , operon , microbiology and biotechnology , streptococcus pneumoniae , agar plate , genotype , phenotype , serotype , bacterial capsule , streptococcaceae , agar , colony morphology , bacteria , gene , antibiotics , genetics , virulence , escherichia coli
In this study, we report the isolation of colony morphology variants fromStreptococcus pneumoniae serotype 3 biofilms. The colony variants differed in colony size (large, medium, and small) and their mucoid appearance on blood agar. The small nonmucoid variant (SCV) emerged during the initial attachment stage ofS. pneumoniae biofilm formation and dominated over the course of biofilm growth. Mucoid variants appeared at later biofilm developmental stages. The reduction in colony size/mucoidy correlated with a decrease in capsule production and an increase in initial attachment. The large mucoid variant formed flat unstructured biofilms, failed to aggregate in liquid culture, and adhered poorly to solid surfaces. In contrast, SCVs autoaggregated in liquid culture, hyperadhered to solid surfaces, and formed biofilms with significant three-dimensional structure, mainly in the form of microcolonies. The variants showed similar antibiotic resistance/susceptibility based on a modified Kirby-Bauer test and when grown as biofilms. However, antimicrobial treatment ofS. pneumoniae biofilms altered the colony variant's distribution and mainly affected the most interior areas of biofilm microcolonies. To further explore the nature of the variants, the capsule biosynthetic operon (cps3DSUM ) was explored in greater detail. The genetic analysis indicated that the emergence of nonmucoid variants was due to a deletion comprisingcps3DSU as well as additional genes upstream of thecps3 operon. Overall, our findings suggest that in vitro biofilm formation ofS. pneumoniae serotype 3 coincides with the emergence of colony variants with distinct genotypic and phenotypic characteristics.