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Infection and Immunity, October 2004, p. 6132-6138, Vol. 72, No. 10
0019-9567/04/$08.00+0     DOI: 10.1128/IAI.72.10.6132-6138.2004
Copyright © 2004, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Biofilm Formation by Neisseria meningitidis

Kyungcheol Yi,1* Andrew W. Rasmussen,1 Seshu K. Gudlavalleti,1 David S. Stephens,1,2 and Igor Stojiljkovic1

Department of Microbiology and Immunology,1 Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, and Laboratories of Microbial Pathogenesis, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Atlanta, Georgia2

Received 12 April 2004/ Returned for modification 7 May 2004/ Accepted 26 June 2004

Biofilm formation by the human pathogen Neisseria meningitidis was analyzed. Biofilm-forming meningococcal strains were identified and quantitated by crystal violet staining. Laser scanning confocal microscopy of the meningococcal biofilm revealed variable layers up to 90 µm in thickness. A total of 39 meningococcal isolates were studied; 23 were nasopharyngeal-carriage isolates, and 16 were invasive-disease isolates. Thirty percent of carriage isolates and 12.5% of invasive-disease isolates formed biofilms proficiently on a polystyrene surface. Generally, the strains that formed biofilms showed high-level cell surface hydrophobicity, characteristic of strains lacking a capsule. The inhibitory role of capsule in biofilm formation was further confirmed by comparing the biofilm-forming capabilities of a serogroup B wild-type strain of a disease-associated isolate to those of its capsule-deficient mutant (ctrA). Some strains of meningococci form biofilms, and this process is likely important in menigococcal colonization.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory University School of Medicine, 1510 Clifton Rd. NE, Atlanta, GA 30322. Phone: (404) 727-5968. Fax: (404) 727-3659. E-mail: kyi{at}emory.edu.

Editor: J. T. Barbieri

Infection and Immunity, October 2004, p. 6132-6138, Vol. 72, No. 10
0019-9567/04/$08.00+0     DOI: 10.1128/IAI.72.10.6132-6138.2004
Copyright © 2004, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.



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