Comparison of biofilm formation and motility processes in arsenic-resistant Thiomonas spp. strains revealed divergent response to arsenite
Abstract
Bacteria of the genus Thiomonas are found ubiquitously
in arsenic contaminated waters such as acid
mine drainage (AMD), where they contribute to the
precipitation and the natural bioremediation of
arsenic. In these environments, these bacteria have
developed a large range of resistance strategies
among which the capacity to form particular biofilm
structures. The biofilm formation is one of the most
ubiquitous adaptive response observed in prokaryotes
to various stresses, such as those induced in
the presence of toxic compounds. This study
focused on the process of biofilm formation in three
Thiomonas strains (CB1, CB2 and CB3) isolated
from the same AMD. The results obtained here
show that these bacteria are all capable of forming
biofilms, but the architecture and the kinetics of formation
of these biofilms differ depending on
whether arsenite is present in the environment and
from one strain to another. Indeed, two strains
favoured biofilm formation, whereas one favoured
motility in the presence of arsenite. To identify the
underlying mechanisms, the patterns of expression
of some genes possibly involved in the process of biofilm formation were investigated in Thiomonas
sp. CB2 in the presence and absence of arsenite,
using a transcriptomic approach (RNA-seq). The
findings obtained here shed interesting light on
how the formation of biofilms, and the motility processes
contribute to the adaptation of Thiomonas
strains to extreme environments.
Domains
Geochemistry
Origin : Publication funded by an institution
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