Part:BBa_K802001
Dispersin generator for B. subtilis
This part associates the Bacillus subtilis Constitutive Promoter (PVeg) with the dispersin B gene (DspB).The DspB gene codes for an enzyme which catalyzes the hydrolysis of the extracellular matrix produced by Gram-negative bacteria.
Characterization
Following results show that this part allows B. subtilis 168 strains to scatter the S. aureus and epidermidis cells in a biofilm.
In our plasmid collection, this part is named pBK33 in the backbone Chloramphenicol and pBKH41 in the shuttle vector E. coli – B. subtilis. The corresponding negative control is the shuttle vector (pBKH26 in our collection). We worked with the plasmid pBKH41 for the tests and we tried two different genetic backgrounds: the strain NM522 to make test in E. coli and the strain 168 to make test in Bacillus subtilis.
In you have any question on the following experiments, don’t forget that all the informations relative to our strains, plasmids and protocols are on our wiki notebook.
Confocal Microscopy 
Biofilms are formed by the S. aureus fluorescent strain RN4220 pALC2084 expressing GFP. It is a nonmotile laboratory strain, used to form biofilms in 96-well microscopic-grade microtiter plate.
Bacillus subtilis 168 transformed by pBKH41 (DspB in in the shuttle vector) and by pBKH26 (the shuttle vector without gene to have a negative control) were grown on LB medium supplemented with erythromycin (15µg/mL).
After 24h of culture at 30°C without shaking, biofilms were observed under a time-lapse confocal microscope. For each well, two observations were made : one before washing the biofilm and one after washing (i.e. after removing the supernatant).
Cells expressing GFP were excited at 488 nm with an argon laser, and fluorescent emission was collected on a detector in the range of 500-600 nm using an oil-immersion objective with a magnification of 63x. The overall three-dimensional structures of the biofilms were scanned from the solid surface to the interface with the growth medium, using a step of 1 µm.
The 3D constructions were obtained with IMARIS software.
- -Blank : it is a non treated S. aureus biofilm (just with growth medium).
-Negative control : it is a S. aureus biofilm treated by B. subtilis containing the shuttle vector without the DspB gene.
-Strain with our part : it is a S. aureus biofilm treated by B. subtilis containing the part BBa_K802001 in the shuttle vector.
- 10COMPATIBLE WITH RFC[10]
- 12COMPATIBLE WITH RFC[12]
- 21COMPATIBLE WITH RFC[21]
- 23COMPATIBLE WITH RFC[23]
- 25INCOMPATIBLE WITH RFC[25]Illegal NgoMIV site found at 675
- 1000COMPATIBLE WITH RFC[1000]
S.aureus biofilm not treated (Blank)
S.aureus biofilm treated by the strain with the shuttle vector without DspB gene (Negative control)
S.aureus biofilm treated by the strain with the part
Statistic analysis:
In order to quantify our results, we made a statistical analysis with the MATLAB software. Different parameters [1] were used to quantify the biofilm, particularly :- - Total Biovolume (µm3) : it corresponds to the overall volume of the biofilm and also allows to have an estimation of the biomass in the biofilm.
- Substratum coverage (%) : it corresponds to the area coverage in the first image of the stack (i.e. at the substratum). It is a good mean to estimate how efficiently the substratum is colonized by bacteria of the population.
The same three cases as previously are analysed.
SDS-PAGE Protein gel
No massive production of dispersin could be observed in E. coli or in B. subtilis supernatant, even after a 4X concentration by aceton precipitation (data not shown.)
Combined action between the parts BBa_K802000 and BBa_K802001
As we demontrated with the previous tests, the part BBa_K802001 has a real effect on the S. aureus biofilm. For our Biofilm Killer project, two complementary agents (lysostaphin with the part BBa_K802000 and dispersin with the part BBa_K802001) were used to destroy an installed biofilm. Thus, it was interesting for us to combine these two agents.
We also have made new tests on 96 wells plate, according to the same protocole than the one used to characterize the lysostaphin part with the confocal microscope. The only difference was that we add 125µL of B. subtilis with the part BBa_K802000 and 125µL of B. subtilis with the part BBa_K802001.
Two cases are analysed :
- - Negative control : it is a S. aureus biofilm treated by B. subtilis strains containing the shuttle vectors without the Lysostaphin and Dispersin genes.
- Strain with our parts : it is a S. aureus biofilm treated by B. subtilis strains containing the part BBa_K802000 and BBa_K802001 in their shuttle vectors.
S.aureus biofilm treated by the shuttle vectors without the lysostaphin and the dispersin genes (Negative control)
S.aureus biofilm treated by the strain with the Parts BBa_K802000 and BBa_K802001
Usage and Biology
This part was designed to be used in Bacillus strains in order to scatter a Staphyloccocus aureus biofilm.
Possible applications include biofilm treatment in medical domain, oil or food-processing industries, using this scattering property to eliminate harmful biofilms.
Sequence and Features
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