Abstract
Group B streptococcus (GBS) is a common asymptomatic colonizer in acidic vagina of pregnant women and can transmit to newborns, causing neonatal pneumonia and meningitis. Biofilm formation is often associated with bacterial colonization and pathogenesis. Little is known about GBS biofilm and the effect of environmental stimuli on their growth along with biofilm formation. The objective of this study was to investigate the survival and biofilm formation of GBS, isolated from pregnant women, in nutrient-limited medium under various pH conditions. Growth and survival experiments were determined by optical density and viable counts. Crystal violet staining, scanning electron microscopy, and atomic force microscopy (AFM) were used to analyze the capacity of biofilm production. Our results showed that GBS isolates proliferated with increasing pH with highest maximum specific growth rate (μmax) at pH 6.5, but survived at pH 4.5 for longer than 48 h. Biofilm formation of the 80 GBS isolates at pH 4.5 was significantly higher than at pH 7.0. This difference was confirmed by two other methods. The low elastic modulus obtained from samples at pH 4.5 by AFM revealed the softness of biofilm; in contrast, little or no biofilm was measured at pH 7.0. Under acidic pH, the capability of biofilm formation of serotypes III and V showed statistically significant difference from serotypes Ia and Ib. Our finding suggested that survival and enhanced biofilm formation at vaginal pH are potentially advantageous for GBS in colonizing vagina and increase the risk of vaginosis and neonatal infection.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 105-115 |
| Number of pages | 11 |
| Journal | Medical Microbiology and Immunology |
| Volume | 202 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2013 Apr 1 |
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All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Immunology and Allergy
- Immunology
- Microbiology (medical)
Cite this
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The enhancement of biofilm formation in Group B streptococcal isolates at vaginal pH. / Ho, Yueh Ren; Li, Chien Ming; Yu, Chen Hsiang; Lin, Yuh Jyh; Wu, Ching Ming; Harn, I. Chen; Tang, Ming Jer; Chen, Yi Ting; Shen, Fang Chi; Lu, Chien Yi; Tsai, Tai Chun; Wu, Jiunn Jong.
In: Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Vol. 202, No. 2, 01.04.2013, p. 105-115.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
TY - JOUR
T1 - The enhancement of biofilm formation in Group B streptococcal isolates at vaginal pH
AU - Ho, Yueh Ren
AU - Li, Chien Ming
AU - Yu, Chen Hsiang
AU - Lin, Yuh Jyh
AU - Wu, Ching Ming
AU - Harn, I. Chen
AU - Tang, Ming Jer
AU - Chen, Yi Ting
AU - Shen, Fang Chi
AU - Lu, Chien Yi
AU - Tsai, Tai Chun
AU - Wu, Jiunn Jong
PY - 2013/4/1
Y1 - 2013/4/1
N2 - Group B streptococcus (GBS) is a common asymptomatic colonizer in acidic vagina of pregnant women and can transmit to newborns, causing neonatal pneumonia and meningitis. Biofilm formation is often associated with bacterial colonization and pathogenesis. Little is known about GBS biofilm and the effect of environmental stimuli on their growth along with biofilm formation. The objective of this study was to investigate the survival and biofilm formation of GBS, isolated from pregnant women, in nutrient-limited medium under various pH conditions. Growth and survival experiments were determined by optical density and viable counts. Crystal violet staining, scanning electron microscopy, and atomic force microscopy (AFM) were used to analyze the capacity of biofilm production. Our results showed that GBS isolates proliferated with increasing pH with highest maximum specific growth rate (μmax) at pH 6.5, but survived at pH 4.5 for longer than 48 h. Biofilm formation of the 80 GBS isolates at pH 4.5 was significantly higher than at pH 7.0. This difference was confirmed by two other methods. The low elastic modulus obtained from samples at pH 4.5 by AFM revealed the softness of biofilm; in contrast, little or no biofilm was measured at pH 7.0. Under acidic pH, the capability of biofilm formation of serotypes III and V showed statistically significant difference from serotypes Ia and Ib. Our finding suggested that survival and enhanced biofilm formation at vaginal pH are potentially advantageous for GBS in colonizing vagina and increase the risk of vaginosis and neonatal infection.
AB - Group B streptococcus (GBS) is a common asymptomatic colonizer in acidic vagina of pregnant women and can transmit to newborns, causing neonatal pneumonia and meningitis. Biofilm formation is often associated with bacterial colonization and pathogenesis. Little is known about GBS biofilm and the effect of environmental stimuli on their growth along with biofilm formation. The objective of this study was to investigate the survival and biofilm formation of GBS, isolated from pregnant women, in nutrient-limited medium under various pH conditions. Growth and survival experiments were determined by optical density and viable counts. Crystal violet staining, scanning electron microscopy, and atomic force microscopy (AFM) were used to analyze the capacity of biofilm production. Our results showed that GBS isolates proliferated with increasing pH with highest maximum specific growth rate (μmax) at pH 6.5, but survived at pH 4.5 for longer than 48 h. Biofilm formation of the 80 GBS isolates at pH 4.5 was significantly higher than at pH 7.0. This difference was confirmed by two other methods. The low elastic modulus obtained from samples at pH 4.5 by AFM revealed the softness of biofilm; in contrast, little or no biofilm was measured at pH 7.0. Under acidic pH, the capability of biofilm formation of serotypes III and V showed statistically significant difference from serotypes Ia and Ib. Our finding suggested that survival and enhanced biofilm formation at vaginal pH are potentially advantageous for GBS in colonizing vagina and increase the risk of vaginosis and neonatal infection.
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U2 - 10.1007/s00430-012-0255-0
DO - 10.1007/s00430-012-0255-0
M3 - Article
C2 - 22797522
AN - SCOPUS:84879694078
VL - 202
SP - 105
EP - 115
JO - Medical Microbiology and Immunology
JF - Medical Microbiology and Immunology
SN - 0300-8584
IS - 2
ER -