Analysis of B. subtilis biofilm formation

Research Project

Project/Area Number	24580113
Research Category	Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
Allocation Type	Multi-year Fund
Section	一般
Research Field	Applied microbiology
Research Institution	Nara Institute of Science and Technology
Principal Investigator	KOBAYASHI Kazuo 奈良先端科学技術大学院大学, バイオサイエンス研究科, 助教 (70324978)
Project Period (FY)	2012-04-01 – 2015-03-31
Project Status	Completed (Fiscal Year 2014)
Budget Amount *help	¥5,460,000 (Direct Cost: ¥4,200,000、Indirect Cost: ¥1,260,000) Fiscal Year 2014: ¥1,560,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,200,000、Indirect Cost: ¥360,000) Fiscal Year 2013: ¥1,560,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,200,000、Indirect Cost: ¥360,000) Fiscal Year 2012: ¥2,340,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,800,000、Indirect Cost: ¥540,000)
Keywords	Bacillus subtilis / biofilm / methyl salicylate / poly-glutamic acid / antibiotics / plant / Plant-microbe / バイオフィルム
Outline of Final Research Achievements	In this study, we show that BslA was an amphiphilic protein that formed a repellent, protective layer on the surface of biofilms. We also show that B. subtilis responds to methyl salicylate, which is a plant signal that induces defense response in plants in response to infection of plant pathogens. In the presence of methyl salicylate, B. subtilis produced poly-gamma-glutamic acid and antibiotics. Poly-gamma-glutamic acid formed capsules, which protected cells against antimicrobials. These findings reveal the resistance mechanism of B. subtilis biofilms and plant-B. subtilis interaction.