Alginate exopolymer significantly modulates the viscoelastic properties and resilience of bacterial biofilms
Abstract Biofilms are viscoelastic gels with a cross-linked network of biopolymers forming an extracellular matrix that protects bacteria from most antimicrobial treatments. This study examines the physical role of the matrix in preventing recolonisation using a mucoid Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aer...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2025-06-01
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| Series: | npj Biofilms and Microbiomes |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41522-025-00718-6 |
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| author | Binu Kundukad Scott A. Rice Patrick S. Doyle Staffan Kjelleberg |
| author_facet | Binu Kundukad Scott A. Rice Patrick S. Doyle Staffan Kjelleberg |
| author_sort | Binu Kundukad |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Biofilms are viscoelastic gels with a cross-linked network of biopolymers forming an extracellular matrix that protects bacteria from most antimicrobial treatments. This study examines the physical role of the matrix in preventing recolonisation using a mucoid Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa ΔmucA) and isogenic wild-type Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1. We investigated the recolonisation of pre-formed live biofilms and the residual matrix left behind after bacterial eradication with N-acetyl cysteine (NAC). P. aeruginosa ΔmucA, which overproduces alginate, prevented recolonisation through swelling and increased elastic modulus. In contrast, the wild-type P. aeruginosa biofilm matrix exhibited minimal swelling and decreased elasticity, suggesting crosslink breakage. These observations align with polymer physics theories where alginate’s polyelectrolyte nature drives swelling through the Donnan effect, enhancing matrix stability. Meanwhile, the Psl-rich wild-type matrix limited swelling but showed reduced mechanical stability. This study underscores the critical role of matrix composition in biofilm mechanics, influencing bacterial protection regardless of viability. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e3dbdfb8e3a24e99b464154ad8325ab0 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2055-5008 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | npj Biofilms and Microbiomes |
| spelling | doaj-art-e3dbdfb8e3a24e99b464154ad8325ab02025-08-20T03:45:11ZengNature Portfolionpj Biofilms and Microbiomes2055-50082025-06-0111111010.1038/s41522-025-00718-6Alginate exopolymer significantly modulates the viscoelastic properties and resilience of bacterial biofilmsBinu Kundukad0Scott A. Rice1Patrick S. Doyle2Staffan Kjelleberg3Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Sciences Engineering, Nanyang Technological UniversityCSIRO, Microbiomes for One Systems Health, Agriculture and FoodSingapore MIT Alliance for Research and TechnologySingapore Centre for Environmental Life Sciences Engineering, Nanyang Technological UniversityAbstract Biofilms are viscoelastic gels with a cross-linked network of biopolymers forming an extracellular matrix that protects bacteria from most antimicrobial treatments. This study examines the physical role of the matrix in preventing recolonisation using a mucoid Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa ΔmucA) and isogenic wild-type Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1. We investigated the recolonisation of pre-formed live biofilms and the residual matrix left behind after bacterial eradication with N-acetyl cysteine (NAC). P. aeruginosa ΔmucA, which overproduces alginate, prevented recolonisation through swelling and increased elastic modulus. In contrast, the wild-type P. aeruginosa biofilm matrix exhibited minimal swelling and decreased elasticity, suggesting crosslink breakage. These observations align with polymer physics theories where alginate’s polyelectrolyte nature drives swelling through the Donnan effect, enhancing matrix stability. Meanwhile, the Psl-rich wild-type matrix limited swelling but showed reduced mechanical stability. This study underscores the critical role of matrix composition in biofilm mechanics, influencing bacterial protection regardless of viability.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41522-025-00718-6 |
| spellingShingle | Binu Kundukad Scott A. Rice Patrick S. Doyle Staffan Kjelleberg Alginate exopolymer significantly modulates the viscoelastic properties and resilience of bacterial biofilms npj Biofilms and Microbiomes |
| title | Alginate exopolymer significantly modulates the viscoelastic properties and resilience of bacterial biofilms |
| title_full | Alginate exopolymer significantly modulates the viscoelastic properties and resilience of bacterial biofilms |
| title_fullStr | Alginate exopolymer significantly modulates the viscoelastic properties and resilience of bacterial biofilms |
| title_full_unstemmed | Alginate exopolymer significantly modulates the viscoelastic properties and resilience of bacterial biofilms |
| title_short | Alginate exopolymer significantly modulates the viscoelastic properties and resilience of bacterial biofilms |
| title_sort | alginate exopolymer significantly modulates the viscoelastic properties and resilience of bacterial biofilms |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41522-025-00718-6 |
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