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Natural conjugative plasmids induce bacterial biofilm development

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  • Jean-Marc Ghigo

    (Unité des Membranes Bactériennes Institut Pasteur (CNRS URA 2172))

Abstract

Horizontal gene transfer is a principal source of evolution leading to change in the ecological character of bacterial species1. Bacterial conjugation2, which promotes the horizontal transfer of genetic material between donor and recipient cells by physical contact, is a phenomenon of fundamental evolutionary consequence3. Although conjugation has been studied primarily in liquid, most natural bacterial populations are found associated with environmental surfaces in complex multispecies communities called biofilms4. Biofilms are ideally suited to the exchange of genetic material of various origins, and it has been shown that bacterial conjugation occurs within biofilms5,6. Here I investigate the direct contribution of conjugative plasmids themselves to the capacity of the bacterial host to form a biofilm. Natural conjugative plasmids expressed factors that induced planktonic bacteria to form or enter biofilm communities, which favour the infectious transfer of the plasmid. This general connection between conjugation and biofilms suggests that medically relevant plasmid-bearing strains are more likely to form a biofilm. This may influence both the chances of biofilm-related infection risks and of conjugational spread of virulence factors.

Suggested Citation

  • Jean-Marc Ghigo, 2001. "Natural conjugative plasmids induce bacterial biofilm development," Nature, Nature, vol. 412(6845), pages 442-445, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:412:y:2001:i:6845:d:10.1038_35086581
    DOI: 10.1038/35086581
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    Cited by:

    1. Xiangan Liu & Pratick Khara & Matthew L. Baker & Peter J. Christie & Bo Hu, 2022. "Structure of a type IV secretion system core complex encoded by multi-drug resistance F plasmids," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-12, December.
    2. Joaquín Bernal-Bayard & Jérôme Thiebaud & Marina Brossaud & Audrey Beaussart & Céline Caillet & Yves Waldvogel & Laetitia Travier & Sylvie Létoffé & Thierry Fontaine & Bachra Rokbi & Philippe Talaga &, 2023. "Bacterial capsular polysaccharides with antibiofilm activity share common biophysical and electrokinetic properties," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-11, December.
    3. Fengxia Yang & Zulin Zhang & Zijun Li & Bingjun Han & Keqiang Zhang & Peng Yang & Yongzhen Ding, 2022. "Prevalence of High-Risk β-Lactam Resistance Genes in Family Livestock Farms in Danjiangkou Reservoir Basin, Central China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(10), pages 1-15, May.
    4. Jonasz B. Patkowski & Tobias Dahlberg & Himani Amin & Dharmender K. Gahlot & Sukhithasri Vijayrajratnam & Joseph P. Vogel & Matthew S. Francis & Joseph L. Baker & Magnus Andersson & Tiago R. D. Costa, 2023. "The F-pilus biomechanical adaptability accelerates conjugative dissemination of antimicrobial resistance and biofilm formation," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-14, December.

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