In:
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Vol. 98, No. 12 ( 2001-06-05), p. 6911-6916
Abstract:
Pseudomonas aeruginosa , an important opportunistic
human pathogen, persists in certain tissues in the form of specialized bacterial communities, referred to as biofilm. The biofilm is formed
through series of interactions between cells and adherence to surfaces, resulting in an organized structure. By screening a library of
Tn 5 insertions in a nonpiliated P.
aeruginosa strain, we identified genes involved in early stages
of biofilm formation. One class of mutations identified in this study mapped in a cluster of genes specifying the components of a
chaperone/usher pathway that is involved in assembly of fimbrial subunits in other microorganisms. These genes, not previously described
in P. aeruginosa , were named cupA1–A5 .
Additional chaperone/usher systems (CupB and CupC) have been also identified in the genome of P. aeruginosa PAO1;
however, they do not appear to play a role in adhesion under the conditions where the CupA system is expressed and functions in surface
adherence. The identification of these putative adhesins on the cell surface of P. aeruginosa suggests that this organism
possess a wide range of factors that function in biofilm formation. These structures appear to be differentially regulated and may function
at distinct stages of biofilm formation, or in specific environments colonized by this organism.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
0027-8424
,
1091-6490
DOI:
10.1073/pnas.111551898
Language:
English
Publisher:
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Publication Date:
2001
detail.hit.zdb_id:
209104-5
detail.hit.zdb_id:
1461794-8
SSG:
11
SSG:
12
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