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Appl. Environ. Microbiol., Aug 1997, 3158-3163, Vol 63, No. 8
C Lapaglia and PL Hartzell
Archaeoglobus fulgidus, an anaerobic marine hyperthermophile, forms a
biofilm in response to environmental stresses. The biofilm is a
heterogeneous, morphologically variable structure containing protein,
polysaccharide, and metals. Production of the biofilm can be induced by
nonphysiological extremes of pH and temperature, by high concentrations of
metals, and by addition of antibiotics, xenobiotics, or oxygen. Cells
within the biofilm show an increased tolerance to otherwise toxic
environmental conditions. Metals sequestered within the biofilm stimulate
growth of A. fulgidus cells in metal-depleted medium. These data suggest
that cells may produce biofilm as a mechanism for concentrating cells and
attaching to surfaces, as a protective barrier, and as a reserve nutrient.
Because similar biofilms are formed by Archaeoglobus profundus,
Methanococcus jannaschii, and Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum, biofilm
formation might be a common stress response mechanism among the archaea.
Copyright © 1997, American Society for Microbiology
Stress-Induced Production of Biofilm in the Hyperthermophile Archaeoglobus fulgidus
Department of Microbiology, Molecular Biology, and Biochemistry, University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho 83844-3052
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