Outer membrane protein OmpQ of Bordetella bronchiseptica is required for mature biofilm formation

Abstract

Bordetella bronchiseptica, an aerobic Gram-negative bacterium, is capable of colonizing the respiratory tract of diverse animals and chronically persists inside the hosts by forming biofilm. Most known virulence factors in Bordetella species are regulated by the BvgAS two-component transduction system. The Bvg-activated proteins play a critical role during host infection. OmpQ is an outer membrane porin protein which is expressed under BvgAS control. Here, we studied the contribution of OmpQ to the biofilm formation process by B. bronchiseptica. We found that the lack of expression of OmpQ did not affect the growth kinetics and final biomass of B. bronchiseptica under planktonic growth conditions. The DompQ mutant strain displayed no differences in attachment level and in early steps of biofilm formation. However, deletion of the ompQ gene attenuated the ability of B. bronchiseptica to form a mature biofilm. Analysis of ompQ gene expression during the biofilm formation process by B. bronchiseptica showed a dynamic expression pattern, with an increase of biofilm culture at 48 h. Moreover, we demonstrated that the addition of serum anti-OmpQ had the potential to reduce the biofilm biomass formation in a dose-dependent manner. In conclusion, we showed for the first time, to the best of our knowledge, evidence of the contribution of OmpQ to a process of importance for B. bronchiseptica pathobiology. Our results indicate that OmpQ plays a role during the biofilm development process, particularly at later stages of development, and that this porin could be a potential target for strategies of biofilm formation inhibition.

Socialization of Providencia stuartii Enables Resistance to Environmental Insults

“…In P. stuartii ATCC 29914 (thereafter referred to as P. stuartii ), two porins are expressed, Omp-Pst1 and Omp-Pst2. Both play a major structural role in P. stuartii socialization, enabling the scaffolding of FCC through the formation of intercellular dimers of OM-embedded trimers (DOTs) acting as rivets between adjacent cells [ 30 , 31 ]. Omp-Pst1 is ~10 times more expressed than Omp-Pst2 under normal growth conditions, constituting the principal entry route for solutes into the periplasm [ 23 , 32 ] but also the principal DOT provider.…”

Identification of novel genes involved in the biofilm formation process of Avian Pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC)

“…Flagella, and in turn motility, have been found to play a role in the adhesion of E. coli to abiotic surfaces and in influencing the biofilm architecture [16,17]. Outer membrane proteins have also been implicated in a variety of roles in biofilm formation, from cell-to-cell communication to mature biofilm development [18][19][20]. In addition, quorum sensing has been implicated in multiple aspects of biofilm formation and development, from structural integrity to cellular dispersal [21].…”