Vibrio cholerae is the causative agent of the human disease cholera, it resides in aquatic resevoirs and forms biofilms, which are closely associated communities of bacteria embedded in polysaccharides, DNA, and proteins. In V. cholerae biofilm formation is regulated by the second messenger molecule cyclic di-GMP (c-di-GMP). A genetic screen for promoters regulated by the c-di-GMP revealed a novel promoter (PepsG) in the eps operon encoding the V. cholerae Type 2 secretion system (T2SS). The T2SS, which exports proteins from the periplasm to the extracellular space, is phylogenetically related to Type 4 pili. The major pseudopilin is encoded by epsG which forms a short piston like structure necessary for secretion. I hypothesized that differential regulation of the eps operon extends the pseudopilin forming a structure called a hyper-pseudopilus outside the cell where it promotes biofilm development. In Chapter 2, I determined that the promoter upstream of the operon (PepsC1) is induced four fold by c-di-GMP and this induction is mediated by the c-di-GMP binding transcription factor VpsR directly. High levels of c-di-GMP were found to decrease the activity of extra cellular proteases secreted by the T2SS, however this effect was not a direct result of regulation of the T2SS as determined by mutation of the VpsR binding site in PepsC1. I was unable to establish a phenotype for the transcriptional control of the eps operon. This work establishes T2S as a new phenotype which is transcriptionally controlled by c-di-GMP and the biofilm associated transcription factor VpsR. In Chapter 3, I show that overexpression of epsG in a continuous flow cell system increased V. cholerae biofilms while a ΔepsG strain showed no biofilm formation. However, there was no change in activity of T2S dependent serine proteases while epsG was over expressed indicating increased biofilms is not likely due to increased secretion. Polyclonal antibody stained EpsG was also detectable on the surface of WT cells and long pseudopili were visualized with over expression of epsG. This evidence suggests the T2SS forms a hyper-pseudopilus important for biofilm formation. In Chapter 4, I present my work identifying novel anti-biofilm compounds. In 2011 Escherichia coli O104:H4 caused the deadliest E. coli outbreak in modern times resulting in 54 deaths and the highest rate of hemolytic uremic syndrome ever recorded. Subsequently, we showed a correlation between biofilm gene expression and virulence factor expression. I sought to identify small molecule compounds effective at inhibiting O104:H4 biofilms. I discovered at a concentration of 0.01% the nonionic surfactants polysorbate 80 (PS80) and polysorbate 20 (PS20) were found to inhibit biofilm formation by 90% and 91% respectively. These compounds were able to disperse preformed biofilms. Treatment of mice infected with E. coli O104:H4 resulted in high bacterial loads and inflammation. While addition of PS80 in the drinking water of the mice did not reduce bacterial loads, it completely abolished inflammation symptoms. PS80 is an FDA approved compound, well studied and effective at low nanomolar concentrations that reduces symptoms of infection in mice. which establishes it as an excellent candidate for further study as an anti-infective agent with anti-biofilm capabilities
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