Comparative Transcriptome Analysis of Desulfovibrio Vulgaris Grown in Planktonic Culture and Mature Biofilm on a Steel Surface

Journal Article · Wed Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 2007 · Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, 76(2):447-457

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-007-1014-9· OSTI ID:921258

Zhang, Weiwen; Culley, David E; Nie, Lei; Scholten, Johannes C

The build-up of biofilms of sulphate -reducing bacteria (SRB) on metals surfaces may lead to severe corrosion of iron. To understand the processes at molecular level, in this study, a whole-genome oligonucleotide microarray was used to examine differential expression patterns between planktonic populations and mature biofilm of model SRB species Desulfovibrio vulgaris. Statistical analysis revealed that 472 genes were differentially expressed (1.5 fold or more with a p value less than 0.025) when comparing biofilm to planktonic cells. Among the differentially expressed genes were several that corresponded to biofilm formation genes identified in many aerobic bacterial biofilms (i.e., Pseudomonas species and Escherichia coli), such as down-regulation of genes encoding flagellin, flagellar motor switch protein and chemotaxis proteins involved in cell motility and induction of genes encoding sugar transferase and glycogen synthase involved in exopolysaccharide biosynthesis. In addition, D. vulgaris biofilm-bound cells exhibited decreased transcription of genes involved in protein synthesis, energy metabolism and sulfate reduction, as well as genes involved in general stress responses. These findings were all consistent with early suggestion that the average physiology of biofilm cells were similar to planktonic cells of stationary phases. Most notably, up-regulation of large number of outer membrane proteins was observed in D. vulgaris biofilm. Although their function is still unknown, the higher expression of these genes in D. vulgaris biofilm could implicate important roles formation and maintenance of multi-cellular consortium on metal surface. The study provided insights into the metabolic networks associated with D. vulgaris biofilm formation and maintenance on an iron surface.

• Research Organization: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (US)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-76RL01830
• OSTI ID: 921258
• Report Number(s): PNNL-SA-53026
• Journal Information: Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, 76(2):447-457, Journal Name: Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, 76(2):447-457 Journal Issue: 2 Vol. 76; ISSN 0175-7598; ISSN AMBIDG
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
BIOSYNTHESIS
Biofilm
CORROSION
Corrosion
DESULFOVIBRIO
Desulfovibrio vulgaris
GENES
GLYCOGEN
IRON
MAINTENANCE
MEMBRANE PROTEINS
METABOLISM
MOTORS
OLIGONUCLEOTIDES
PHYSIOLOGY
PROTEINS
PSEUDOMONAS
SACCHAROSE
STEELS
SULFATE-REDUCING BACTERIA
SULFATES
SYNTHESIS
TRANSCRIPTION
TRANSFERASES
Transcriptome analysis