Impact of Environmental and Genetic Factors on Biofilm Formation by the Probiotic Strain Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG
ABSTRACTLactobacillus rhamnosusGG (ATCC 53103) is one of the clinically best-studied probiotic organisms. Moreover,L. rhamnosusGG displays very good in vitro adherence to epithelial cells and mucus. Here, we report thatL. rhamnosusGG is able to form biofilms on abiotic surfaces, in contrast to other strains of theLactobacillus caseigroup tested under the same conditions. Microtiter plate biofilm assays indicated that in vitro biofilm formation byL. rhamnosusGG is strongly modulated by culture medium factors and conditions related to the gastrointestinal environment, including low pH; high osmolarity; and the presence of bile, mucins, and nondigestible polysaccharides. Additionally, phenotypic analysis of mutants affected in exopolysaccharides (wzb), lipoteichoic acid (dltD), and central metabolism (luxS) showed their relative importance in biofilm formation byL. rhamnosusGG.