Anaerobic metabolism occurs in the substratum of gonococcal biofilms and may be sustained in part by nitric oxide

Falsetta, ML, McEwan, AG, Jennings, MP and Apicella, MA (2010) Anaerobic metabolism occurs in the substratum of gonococcal biofilms and may be sustained in part by nitric oxide. Infection and Immunity, 78 5: 2320-2328.


Author Falsetta, ML
McEwan, AG
Jennings, MP
Apicella, MA
Title Anaerobic metabolism occurs in the substratum of gonococcal biofilms and may be sustained in part by nitric oxide
Journal name Infection and Immunity  (ERA 2012 Listed)    (ERA 2010 Rank A)   Check publisher's open access policy
Publication date 2010-05
Sub-type Article
DOI 10.1128/IAI.01312-09
Volume number 78
Issue number 5
ISSN 0019-9567; 1070-6313; 1098-5522
Start page 2320
End page 2328
Total pages 9
Place of publication Washington, DC, United States
Publisher American Society for Microbiology
Collection year 2011
Language eng
Formatted abstract Neisseria gonorrhoeae is the etiologic agent of gonorrhea, which has been among the most frequently reported communicable diseases in the United States since 1960. Women frequently do not exhibit symptoms, which can lead to chronic infection. N. gonorrhoeae readily forms biofilms over abiotic surfaces, over primary and transformed cervical epithelial cells, and over cervical tissues in vivo. Biofilms are often associated with chronic infection, which suggests a link between biofilm formation and asymptomatic gonorrhea in women. Proteins involved in anaerobic metabolism and oxidative-stress tolerance are critical for normal biofilm formation of N. gonorrhoeae. Therefore, we examined the spatial profiles of anaerobic respiration in N. gonorrhoeae, using an aniA'-'gfp transcriptional fusion. Nitric oxide (NO) can elicit biofilm dispersal when present at sublethal concentrations in the surrounding medium. Some reports indicate that NO may also encourage biofilm formation at higher, potentially lethal concentrations. NO is produced by polymorphonuclear lymphocytes (PMNs) and cervical endothelial and epithelial cells. Thus, we also examined the effect of NO on N. gonorrhoeae biofilms. We found that anaerobic respiration occurs predominantly in the substratum of gonococcal biofilms and that expression of aniA is induced over time in biofilms. Treatment with high concentrations of a rapid-release NO donor prevents biofilm formation when supplied early in biofilm development but can also enhance biofilm formation once anaerobic respiration is initiated. NO treatment partially restores biofilm formation in an aniA::kan insertion mutant, which suggests that N. gonorrhoeae in biofilms may use NO as a substrate for anaerobic growth but prefer nitrite.
Copyright © 2010, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.
Keyword Cervical epithelial-cells
Oxidative stress
Neisseria-gonorrhoeae
Bacterial biofilms
Q-Index Code C1
Q-Index Status Confirmed Code
Institutional Status UQ

Document type: Journal Article
Sub-type: Article
Collections: Official 2011 Collection
School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences
 
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Created: Sun, 02 May 2010, 00:06:30 EST