VIBRIO-CHOLERAE O1 STRAIN TSI-4 PRODUCES THE EXOPOLYSACCHARIDE MATERIALS THAT DETERMINE COLONY MORPHOLOGY, STRESS RESISTANCE, AND BIOFILM FORMATION

Vibrio cholerae O1 strain TSI-4 (El Tor, Ogawa) can shift to a rugose colony morphology from its normal translucent colony morphology in res ponse to nutrient starvation. We have investigated differences between the rugose and translucent forms of V. cholerae O1 strain TSI-4. Elec tron microscopic examination of the rugose form of TSI-4 (TSI-WR) reve aled thick, electron-dense exopolysaccharide materials surrounding pol ycationic ferritin-stained cells, while the ferritin-stained material was absent around the translucent form of TSI-4 (TSI-4/T). The exopoly saccharide produced by V. cholerae TSI-4/R was found to have a composi tion of N-acetyl-D-glucosamine, D-mannose, 6-deoxy-D-galactose, and D- galactose (7.4:10.2:2.4:3.0). The expression of an amorphous exopolysa ccharide promotes biofilm development under static culture conditions. Biofilm formation by the rugose strain was determined by scanning ele ctron microscopy, and most of the surface of the film was colonized by actively dividing rod cells. The corresponding rugose and translucent strains,were compared for stress resistance. By having exopolysacchar ide materials, the rugose strains acquired resistance to osmotic and o xidative stress. Our data indicated that an exopolysaccharide material on the surface of the rugose strain promoted biofilm formation and re sistance to the effects of two stressing agents.