Biofilms 1 Flashcards
Infectious Diseases fall into what two categories?
Function of susceeptibility of he host:
- immune competent/compromised
- immunisations
- age
-trauma
- genetics
- antimicrobial therapy
Relates to the mechanism of bacterial pathogenesis
- secretion of factors (toxins)
- direct host cell manipulation
- evasion of host immune response
What are our different types of virulence factors
Adherence (adhesins) and colonisation factors
Invasion factors
Capsules
Siderophores
Endotoxins
Exotoxins
What is the main virulence factor bacteria has evolved for survival and adaptation?
Biofilm formation
Bacteria that form biofilm exist in two forms what are these?
Planktonic cells
Biofilm
How do planktonic cells differ from biofilm
Planktonic cells are sensitive while biofilm is not
What are planktonic cells
Single cell/bacteria or individual cells independently existing
Think of how bacteria grow in the lab
If planktonic cells are single cells what is biofilm?
In a biofilm cells are attache to each other or to a tissue or device -> they create a community
This attachment is irreversible
Why is biofilm more resistant than planktonic cells
Biofilms are sessile
Theyre sticky - gloopy matrix that coats the biofilm
Theyre stubborn – difficult to remove from a device or from the healthcare environment
Theyre hard to treat with antibiotics
Theyre hard to remove with disinfectants
What are the three S’s of biofilm
Sticky
Stubborn
subversive
What is a biofilm
Communities of bacteria attached to a surface
Define the two different lifestyles of biofilm
Planktonic (free-swimming), nomadic bacteria
Surface attached bacteria that form sessile communities called biofilm
Define biofilm, what three things are needed in order to called a bacteria a biofilm
Microbially derived sessile community characterised by cells that are irreversibly attached to a substratum or interface or to each other
And are embedded in a matrix of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) that they have produced
And exhibit an altered cell phenotype with respect to growth rate and gene transcription
What does EPS stand for?
Extracellular polymeric substances
What is the role of EPS in biofilm structure
Biofilms self produce a matrix of hydrated extracellular polymeric substances that form their immediate environement
They provide mechanical stability to the bacteria,
Help mediate bacterial adhesion
The 3D polymer netweork interconnects and immobilised biofilm cells
Role in tolerance to antimicrobials-defence barrier
Development and dispersion
What is the EPS made of?
Polysacchrarides - alginate
Proteins
Nucleic acids
Lipids
What specifics form the EPS in the biofilm of P. aeruginosa?
Polysaccharides such as :
- alginate
- Psl for adherence to EC
- Pel -> SCD
Nucleic acids such as eDNA
What are the three functions of eDNA nucleic acids that form bofilm in P. auriginosa
Chealate cations
Disrupts bacterial membranes
DNAse dispersal of early biofilms
What does the alginate of P. aeruginosa biofilm do?
Its a polysaccharide thats associated with chronic stages of infection
What does the Psl and Pel of P. aeruginosa biofilm do?
These are important in the initial stages of biofilm production
What genes are responsible for alginate, Psl and Pel in P. auriginosa biofilm
pslA
alg8
pel
What did deletion of pslA and alg8 result in, in P. auriginosa biofilm?
this resulted in cells that overproduced Pel
What did deletion of pslA OR alg8 result in, in P. auriginosa biofilm?
This resulted in loss of characteristic mushroom structure in later biofilms
What did deletion of pslA and pel result in, in P. auriginosa biofilm?
Bacteria lost their ability to form biofilms altogether
What are the four stages of biofilm formation
Monolayer formation:
1. reversible attachement
2. ireversible attachment
- Microcolony Formation
- Macrocolony Formation
- Mature biofilm formed
NB: United we stand, divided we fall