Nonclassical Biofilms Induced by DNA Breaks in Klebsiella pneumoniae

Authors:
Open Access
Publisher website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Many pathogenic bacteria can form biofilm matrices that consist of complex molecules such as polysaccharides, proteins, and DNA. These biofilms help the bacteria to infect and colonize a host. Such biofilms may attach and develop on the surfaces of indwelling medical devices or other supportive environments. This study found that following double-strand breaks in their DNA, Klebsiella pneumoniae cells can form a novel type of biofilm with ring-like or discoid morphology. This biofilm structure, named the “R-biofilm,” helps protect the bacteria against adverse conditions such as exposure to ethanol, hydrogen peroxide, and UV radiation.
Funding Information
  • National Science and Technology Major Project (2018ZX10101-003-005)
  • National Natural Science Foundation of China (81930122)

This publication has 16 references indexed in Scilit: