Characterization of Mixed-Species Biofilms Formed by Four Gut Microbiota
In natural settings, approximately 40–80% of bacteria exist as biofilms, most of which are mixed-species biofilms. Previous studies have typically focused on single- or dual-species biofilms. To expand the field of study on gut biofilms, we found a group of gut microbiota that can form biofilms well...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2022-11-01
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| Series: | Microorganisms |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/10/12/2332 |
| _version_ | 1797456249809272832 |
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| author | Tao Xu Yue Xiao Hongchao Wang Jinlin Zhu Yuankun Lee Jianxin Zhao Wenwei Lu Hao Zhang |
| author_facet | Tao Xu Yue Xiao Hongchao Wang Jinlin Zhu Yuankun Lee Jianxin Zhao Wenwei Lu Hao Zhang |
| author_sort | Tao Xu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In natural settings, approximately 40–80% of bacteria exist as biofilms, most of which are mixed-species biofilms. Previous studies have typically focused on single- or dual-species biofilms. To expand the field of study on gut biofilms, we found a group of gut microbiota that can form biofilms well in vitro: <i>Bifidobacterium longum</i> subsp. <i>infantis</i>, <i>Enterococcus faecalis</i>, <i>Bacteroides ovatus</i>, and <i>Lactobacillus gasseri</i>. The increase in biomass and bio-volume of the mixed-species biofilm was confirmed via crystal violet staining, field emission scanning electron microscopy, and confocal laser scanning microscopy, revealing a strong synergistic relationship in these communities, with <i>B. longum</i> being the key biofilm-contributing species. This interaction may be related to changes in the cell number, biofilm-related genes, and metabolic activities. After quantifying the cell number using quantitative polymerase chain reaction, <i>B. longum</i> and <i>L. gasseri</i> were found to be the dominant flora in the mixed-species biofilm. In addition, this study analyzed biological properties of mixed-species biofilms, such as antibiotic resistance, cell metabolic activity, and concentration of water-insoluble polysaccharides. Compared with single-species biofilms, mixed-species biofilms had higher metabolic activity, more extracellular matrix, and greater antibiotic resistance. From these results, we can see that the formation of biofilms is a self-protection mechanism of gut microbiota, and the formation of mixed-species biofilms can greatly improve the survival rate of different strains. Finally, this study is a preliminary exploration of the biological characteristics of gut biofilms, and the molecular mechanisms underlying the formation of biofilms warrant further research. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T16:05:30Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c30a6189205a4c389d9a1289951b1411 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2607 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T16:05:30Z |
| publishDate | 2022-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Microorganisms |
| spelling | doaj.art-c30a6189205a4c389d9a1289951b14112023-11-24T16:47:19ZengMDPI AGMicroorganisms2076-26072022-11-011012233210.3390/microorganisms10122332Characterization of Mixed-Species Biofilms Formed by Four Gut MicrobiotaTao Xu0Yue Xiao1Hongchao Wang2Jinlin Zhu3Yuankun Lee4Jianxin Zhao5Wenwei Lu6Hao Zhang7State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, ChinaDepartment of Microbiology & Immunology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117545, SingaporeState Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, ChinaIn natural settings, approximately 40–80% of bacteria exist as biofilms, most of which are mixed-species biofilms. Previous studies have typically focused on single- or dual-species biofilms. To expand the field of study on gut biofilms, we found a group of gut microbiota that can form biofilms well in vitro: <i>Bifidobacterium longum</i> subsp. <i>infantis</i>, <i>Enterococcus faecalis</i>, <i>Bacteroides ovatus</i>, and <i>Lactobacillus gasseri</i>. The increase in biomass and bio-volume of the mixed-species biofilm was confirmed via crystal violet staining, field emission scanning electron microscopy, and confocal laser scanning microscopy, revealing a strong synergistic relationship in these communities, with <i>B. longum</i> being the key biofilm-contributing species. This interaction may be related to changes in the cell number, biofilm-related genes, and metabolic activities. After quantifying the cell number using quantitative polymerase chain reaction, <i>B. longum</i> and <i>L. gasseri</i> were found to be the dominant flora in the mixed-species biofilm. In addition, this study analyzed biological properties of mixed-species biofilms, such as antibiotic resistance, cell metabolic activity, and concentration of water-insoluble polysaccharides. Compared with single-species biofilms, mixed-species biofilms had higher metabolic activity, more extracellular matrix, and greater antibiotic resistance. From these results, we can see that the formation of biofilms is a self-protection mechanism of gut microbiota, and the formation of mixed-species biofilms can greatly improve the survival rate of different strains. Finally, this study is a preliminary exploration of the biological characteristics of gut biofilms, and the molecular mechanisms underlying the formation of biofilms warrant further research.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/10/12/2332gut microbiotamixed-species biofilms<i>Bacteroides</i><i>Bifidobacterium</i><i>Enterococcus</i><i>Lactobacillus</i> |
| spellingShingle | Tao Xu Yue Xiao Hongchao Wang Jinlin Zhu Yuankun Lee Jianxin Zhao Wenwei Lu Hao Zhang Characterization of Mixed-Species Biofilms Formed by Four Gut Microbiota Microorganisms gut microbiota mixed-species biofilms <i>Bacteroides</i> <i>Bifidobacterium</i> <i>Enterococcus</i> <i>Lactobacillus</i> |
| title | Characterization of Mixed-Species Biofilms Formed by Four Gut Microbiota |
| title_full | Characterization of Mixed-Species Biofilms Formed by Four Gut Microbiota |
| title_fullStr | Characterization of Mixed-Species Biofilms Formed by Four Gut Microbiota |
| title_full_unstemmed | Characterization of Mixed-Species Biofilms Formed by Four Gut Microbiota |
| title_short | Characterization of Mixed-Species Biofilms Formed by Four Gut Microbiota |
| title_sort | characterization of mixed species biofilms formed by four gut microbiota |
| topic | gut microbiota mixed-species biofilms <i>Bacteroides</i> <i>Bifidobacterium</i> <i>Enterococcus</i> <i>Lactobacillus</i> |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/10/12/2332 |
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