Open AccessRole of a GntR-Family Response Regulator LbrA in Listeria monocytogenes Biofilm Formation
Author(s) -
Andrew Benedict Wassinger,
Lu Zhang,
Erin N. Tracy,
Robert S. Munson,
Sophia Kathariou,
Hua H. Wang
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
plos one
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.99
H-Index - 332
ISSN - 1932-6203
DOI - 10.1371/journal.pone.0070448
Subject(s) - biofilm , listeria monocytogenes , complementation , biology , mutant , microbiology and biotechnology , gene , transcriptome , response regulator , strain (injury) , regulator , phenotype , gene expression , genetics , bacteria , anatomy
The formation of Listeria monocytogenes biofilms contributes to persistent contamination in food processing facilities. A microarray comparison of L. monocytogenes between the transcriptome of the strong biofilm forming strain (Bfm s ) Scott A and the weak biofilm forming (Bfm w ) strain F2365 was conducted to identify genes potentially involved in biofilm formation. Among 951 genes with significant difference in expression between the two strains, a GntR-family response regulator encoding gene (LMOf2365_0414), designated lbrA , was found to be highly expressed in Scott A relative to F2365. A Scott A lbrA -deletion mutant, designated AW3, formed biofilm to a much lesser extent as compared to the parent strain by a rapid attachment assay and scanning electron microscopy. Complementation with lbrA from Scott A restored the Bfm s phenotype in the AW3 derivative. A second microarray assessment using the lbrA deletion mutant AW3 and the wild type Scott A revealed a total of 304 genes with expression significantly different between the two strains, indicating the potential regulatory role of LbrA in L. monocytogenes . A cloned copy of Scott A lbrA was unable to confer enhanced biofilm forming potential in F2365, suggesting that additional factors contributed to weak biofilm formation by F2365.