UC Santa Cruz

Biofilms are matrix-encased microbial communities, composed of lipids, proteins, exopolysaccharides, eDNA, and outer membrane vesicles. Residence in biofilm facilitates increased microbial fitness in both the environment and host. Biofilm formation is critical for the infection cycle of Vibrio cholerae, the causative agent of cholera. To gain insight into the V. cholerae biofilm matrix we performed proteomic analysis of the biofilm matrix and identified a set of outer membrane proteins (OMPs) in the V. cholerae biofilm matrix. Strains lacking these OMPs were generated and assessed for biofilm formation potential and production of matrix components. The role of outer membrane vesicles (OMVs), the primary mechanism of OMP extracellular secretion, in formation of biofilm was also investigated. The results of this study suggest that both outer membrane proteins and outer membrane vesicles participate in V. cholerae biofilm architecture, helping fill a knowledge gap regarding an aspect of the infection cycle of this pathogen.