10.6084/m9.figshare.825531.v1
Nathalie Tufenkji
Nathalie
Tufenkji
Zeinab Hosseinidoust
Zeinab
Hosseinidoust
Theo G.M. van de Ven
Theo
G.M. van de Ven
Formation of biofilms under phage predation: considerations concerning a biofilm increase
Taylor & Francis Group
2013
biofilms
phage
considerations
biofilm
2013-04-01 00:00:00
Journal contribution
https://tandf.figshare.com/articles/journal_contribution/Formation_of_biofilms_under_phage_predation_considerations_concerning_a_biofilm_increase/825531
<div><p>Bacteriophages are emerging as strong candidates for combating bacterial biofilms. However, reports indicating that host populations can, in some cases, respond to phage predation by an increase in biofilm formation are of concern. This study investigates whether phage predation can enhance the formation of biofilm and if so, if this phenomenon is governed by the emergence of phage-resistance or by non-evolutionary mechanisms (eg spatial refuge). Single-species biofilms of three bacterial pathogens (<i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i>, <i>Salmonella enterica</i> serotype Typhimurium, and <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i>) were pretreated and post-treated with species-specific phages. Some of the phage treatments resulted in an increase in the levels of biofilm of their host. It is proposed that the phenotypic change brought about by acquiring phage resistance is the main reason for the increase in the level of biofilm of <i>P. aeruginosa</i>. For biofilms of <i>S. aureus</i> and <i>S. enterica</i> Typhimurium, although resistance was detected, increased formation of biofilm appeared to be a result of non-evolutionary mechanisms.</p>
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