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Yoo K, Bhattacharya S, Oliveira NK, Pereira de Sa N, Matos GS, Del Poeta M, Fries BC. With age comes resilience: how mitochondrial modulation drives age-associated fluconazole tolerance in Cryptococcus neoformans. mBio 2024:e0184724. [PMID: 39136442 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.01847-24] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2024] [Accepted: 07/09/2024] [Indexed: 08/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Cryptococcus neoformans (Cn) is an opportunistic fungal microorganism that causes life-threatening meningoencephalitis. During the infection, the microbial population is heterogeneously composed of cells with varying generational ages, with older cells accumulating during chronic infections. This is attributed to their enhanced resistance to phagocytic killing and tolerance of antifungals like fluconazole (FLC). In this study, we investigated the role of ergosterol synthesis, ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters, and mitochondrial metabolism in the regulation of age-dependent FLC tolerance. We find that old Cn cells increase the production of ergosterol and exhibit upregulation of ABC transporters. Old cells also show transcriptional and phenotypic characteristics consistent with increased metabolic activity, leading to increased ATP production. This is accompanied by increased production of reactive oxygen species, which results in mitochondrial fragmentation. This study demonstrates that the metabolic changes occurring in the mitochondria of old cells drive the increase in ergosterol synthesis and the upregulation of ABC transporters, leading to FLC tolerance. IMPORTANCE Infections caused by Cryptococcus neoformans cause more than 180,000 deaths annually. Estimated 1-year mortality for patients receiving care ranges from 20% in developed countries to 70% in developing countries, suggesting that current treatments are inadequate. Some fungal cells can persist and replicate despite the usage of current antifungal regimens, leading to death or treatment failure. Aging in fungi is associated with enhanced tolerance against antifungals and resistance to killing by host cells. This study shows that age-dependent increase in mitochondrial reactive oxygen species drive changes in the regulation of membrane transporters and ergosterol synthesis, ultimately leading to the heightened tolerance against fluconazole in old C. neoformans cells. Understanding the underlying molecular mechanisms of this age-associated antifungal tolerance will enable more targeted antifungal therapies for cryptococcal infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyungyoon Yoo
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Renaissance School of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - Somanon Bhattacharya
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - Natalia Kronbauer Oliveira
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Renaissance School of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - Nivea Pereira de Sa
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Renaissance School of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - Gabriel Soares Matos
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Renaissance School of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - Maurizio Del Poeta
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Renaissance School of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
- Veterans Administration Medical Center, Northport, New York, USA
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - Bettina C Fries
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Renaissance School of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
- Veterans Administration Medical Center, Northport, New York, USA
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Brown GD, Ballou ER, Bates S, Bignell EM, Borman AM, Brand AC, Brown AJP, Coelho C, Cook PC, Farrer RA, Govender NP, Gow NAR, Hope W, Hoving JC, Dangarembizi R, Harrison TS, Johnson EM, Mukaremera L, Ramsdale M, Thornton CR, Usher J, Warris A, Wilson D. The pathobiology of human fungal infections. Nat Rev Microbiol 2024:10.1038/s41579-024-01062-w. [PMID: 38918447 DOI: 10.1038/s41579-024-01062-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024]
Abstract
Human fungal infections are a historically neglected area of disease research, yet they cause more than 1.5 million deaths every year. Our understanding of the pathophysiology of these infections has increased considerably over the past decade, through major insights into both the host and pathogen factors that contribute to the phenotype and severity of these diseases. Recent studies are revealing multiple mechanisms by which fungi modify and manipulate the host, escape immune surveillance and generate complex comorbidities. Although the emergence of fungal strains that are less susceptible to antifungal drugs or that rapidly evolve drug resistance is posing new threats, greater understanding of immune mechanisms and host susceptibility factors is beginning to offer novel immunotherapeutic options for the future. In this Review, we provide a broad and comprehensive overview of the pathobiology of human fungal infections, focusing specifically on pathogens that can cause invasive life-threatening infections, highlighting recent discoveries from the pathogen, host and clinical perspectives. We conclude by discussing key future challenges including antifungal drug resistance, the emergence of new pathogens and new developments in modern medicine that are promoting susceptibility to infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gordon D Brown
- Medical Research Council Centre for Medical Mycology, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK.
| | - Elizabeth R Ballou
- Medical Research Council Centre for Medical Mycology, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - Steven Bates
- Medical Research Council Centre for Medical Mycology, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - Elaine M Bignell
- Medical Research Council Centre for Medical Mycology, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - Andrew M Borman
- Medical Research Council Centre for Medical Mycology, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - Alexandra C Brand
- Medical Research Council Centre for Medical Mycology, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - Alistair J P Brown
- Medical Research Council Centre for Medical Mycology, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - Carolina Coelho
- Medical Research Council Centre for Medical Mycology, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - Peter C Cook
- Medical Research Council Centre for Medical Mycology, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - Rhys A Farrer
- Medical Research Council Centre for Medical Mycology, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - Nelesh P Govender
- Medical Research Council Centre for Medical Mycology, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - Neil A R Gow
- Medical Research Council Centre for Medical Mycology, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - William Hope
- Medical Research Council Centre for Medical Mycology, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - J Claire Hoving
- Medical Research Council Centre for Medical Mycology, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - Rachael Dangarembizi
- Medical Research Council Centre for Medical Mycology, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - Thomas S Harrison
- Medical Research Council Centre for Medical Mycology, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - Elizabeth M Johnson
- Medical Research Council Centre for Medical Mycology, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - Liliane Mukaremera
- Medical Research Council Centre for Medical Mycology, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - Mark Ramsdale
- Medical Research Council Centre for Medical Mycology, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | | | - Jane Usher
- Medical Research Council Centre for Medical Mycology, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - Adilia Warris
- Medical Research Council Centre for Medical Mycology, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - Duncan Wilson
- Medical Research Council Centre for Medical Mycology, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
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Silva VKA, Min S, Yoo K, Fries BC. Host-Pathogen Interactions and Correlated Factors That Are Affected in Replicative-Aged Cryptococcus neoformans. J Fungi (Basel) 2024; 10:279. [PMID: 38667950 PMCID: PMC11050866 DOI: 10.3390/jof10040279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2024] [Revised: 03/27/2024] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Cryptococcus neoformans is a facultative intracellular fungal pathogen. Ten-generation-old (10GEN) C. neoformans cells are more resistant to phagocytosis and killing by macrophages than younger daughter cells. However, mechanisms that mediate this resistance and intracellular parasitism are poorly understood. Here, we identified important factors for the intracellular survival of 10GEN C. neoformans, such as urease activity, capsule synthesis, and DNA content using flow cytometry and fluorescent microscopy techniques. The real-time visualization of time-lapse imaging was applied to determine the phagosomal acidity, membrane permeability, and vomocytosis (non-lytic exocytosis) rate in J774 macrophages that phagocytosed C. neoformans of different generational ages. Our results showed that old C. neoformans exhibited higher urease activity and enhanced Golgi activity. In addition, old C. neoformans were more likely to be arrested in the G2 phase, resulting in the occasional formation of aberrant trimera-like cells. To finish, the advanced generational age of the yeast cells slightly reduced vomocytosis events within host cells, which might be associated with increased phagolysosome pH and membrane permeability. Altogether, our results suggest that old C. neoformans prevail within acidic phagolysosomes and can manipulate the phagosome pH. These strategies may be used by old C. neoformans to resist phagosomal killing and drive cryptococcosis pathogenesis. The comprehension of these essential host-pathogen interactions could further shed light on mechanisms that bring new insights for novel antifungal therapeutic design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vanessa K. A. Silva
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA; (V.K.A.S.); (S.M.)
| | - Sungyun Min
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA; (V.K.A.S.); (S.M.)
| | - Kyungyoon Yoo
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Renaissance School of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA;
| | - Bettina C. Fries
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA; (V.K.A.S.); (S.M.)
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Renaissance School of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA;
- Veterans Administration Medical Center, Northport, NY 11768, USA
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Yoo K, Oliveira NK, Bhattacharya S, Fries BC. Achieving Resilience in Aging: How Mitochondrial Modulation Drives Age-associated Fluconazole Tolerance in Cryptococcus neoformans. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.03.26.586817. [PMID: 38585804 PMCID: PMC10996610 DOI: 10.1101/2024.03.26.586817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/09/2024]
Abstract
Cryptococcus neoformans ( Cn ) is an opportunistic fungal microorganism that causes life-threatening meningoencephalitis. During the infection, the microbial population is heterogeneously composed of cells with varying generational ages, with older cells accumulating during chronic infections. This is attributed to their enhanced resistance to phagocytic killing and tolerance of antifungals like fluconazole (FLC). In this study, we investigated the role of ergosterol synthesis, ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters, and mitochondrial metabolism in the regulation of age-dependent FLC tolerance. We find that old Cn cells increase the production of ergosterol and exhibit upregulation of ABC transporters. Old cells also show transcriptional and phenotypic characteristics consistent with increased metabolic activity, leading to increased ATP production. This is accompanied by increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which results in mitochondrial fragmentation. This study demonstrates that the metabolic changes occurring in the mitochondria of old cells drive the increase in ergosterol synthesis and the upregulation of ABC transporters, leading to FLC tolerance. IMPORTANCE Infections caused by Cryptococcus neoformans cause more than 180,000 deaths annually. Estimated one-year mortality for patients receiving care ranges from 20% in developed countries to 70% in developing countries, suggesting that current treatments are inadequate. Some fungal cells can persist and replicate despite the usage of current antifungal regimens, leading to death or treatment failure. In replicative aging, older cells display a resilient phenotype, characterized by their enhanced tolerance against antifungals and resistance to killing by host cells. This study shows that age-dependent increase in mitochondrial reactive oxygen species drive changes in ABC transporters and ergosterol synthesis, ultimately leading to the heightened tolerance against fluconazole in old C. neoformans cells. Understanding the underlying molecular mechanisms of this age-associated antifungal tolerance will enable more targeted antifungal therapies for cryptococcal infections.
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5
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Silva VKA, Oliveira NK, Fries BC. Measuring Replicative Lifespan in Cryptococcus neoformans. Methods Mol Biol 2024; 2775:375-384. [PMID: 38758331 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3722-7_25] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/18/2024]
Abstract
Advances in understanding cellular aging research have been possible due to the analysis of the replicative lifespan of yeast cells. Studying longevity in the pathogenic yeast Cryptococcus neoformans is essential because old yeast cells with age-related phenotypes accumulate during infection and are associated with increased virulence and antifungal tolerance. Microdissection and microfluidic devices are valuable tools for continuously tracking cells at the single-cell level. In this chapter, we describe the features of these two platforms and outline technical limitations and information to study aging mechanisms while assessing the lifespan of yeast cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vanessa K A Silva
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - Natalia K Oliveira
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Renaissance School of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - Bettina C Fries
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA.
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Renaissance School of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA.
- Veterans Administration Medical Center, Northport, NY, USA.
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Romero V, Kalinhoff C, Saa LR, Sánchez A. Fungi's Swiss Army Knife: Pleiotropic Effect of Melanin in Fungal Pathogenesis during Cattle Mycosis. J Fungi (Basel) 2023; 9:929. [PMID: 37755037 PMCID: PMC10532448 DOI: 10.3390/jof9090929] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2023] [Revised: 09/05/2023] [Accepted: 09/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Fungal threats to public health, food security, and biodiversity have escalated, with a significant rise in mycosis cases globally. Around 300 million people suffer from severe fungal diseases annually, while one-third of food crops are decimated by fungi. Vertebrate, including livestock, are also affected. Our limited understanding of fungal virulence mechanisms hampers our ability to prevent and treat cattle mycoses. Here we aim to bridge knowledge gaps in fungal virulence factors and the role of melanin in evading bovine immune responses. We investigate mycosis in bovines employing a PRISMA-based methodology, bioinformatics, and data mining techniques. Our analysis identified 107 fungal species causing mycoses, primarily within the Ascomycota division. Candida, Aspergillus, Malassezia, and Trichophyton were the most prevalent genera. Of these pathogens, 25% produce melanin. Further research is required to explore the involvement of melanin and develop intervention strategies. While the literature on melanin-mediated fungal evasion mechanisms in cattle is lacking, we successfully evaluated the transferability of immunological mechanisms from other model mammals through homology. Bioinformatics enables knowledge transfer and enhances our understanding of mycosis in cattle. This synthesis fills critical information gaps and paves the way for proposing biotechnological strategies to mitigate the impact of mycoses in cattle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Víctor Romero
- Maestría en Biotecnología Agropecuaria, Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja, San Cayetano Alto, Calle París s/n, Loja 1101608, Ecuador
- Museo de Zoología, Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja, San Cayetano Alto, Calle París s/n, Loja 1101608, Ecuador
| | - Carolina Kalinhoff
- Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas y Agropecuarias, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja, San Cayetano Alto, Calle París s/n, Loja 1101608, Ecuador; (C.K.)
| | - Luis Rodrigo Saa
- Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas y Agropecuarias, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja, San Cayetano Alto, Calle París s/n, Loja 1101608, Ecuador; (C.K.)
| | - Aminael Sánchez
- Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas y Agropecuarias, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja, San Cayetano Alto, Calle París s/n, Loja 1101608, Ecuador; (C.K.)
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Huang J, Lei J, Ge A, Xiao W, Xin C, Song Z, Zhang J. Antifungal Effect of Vitamin D 3 against Cryptococcus neoformans Coincides with Reduced Biofilm Formation, Compromised Cell Wall Integrity, and Increased Generation of Reactive Oxygen Species. J Fungi (Basel) 2023; 9:772. [PMID: 37504760 PMCID: PMC10381739 DOI: 10.3390/jof9070772] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2023] [Revised: 07/15/2023] [Accepted: 07/20/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Cryptococcus neoformans is an invasive fungus that causes both acute and chronic infections, especially in immunocompromised patients. Owing to the increase in the prevalence of drug-resistant pathogenic fungi and the limitations of current treatment strategies, drug repositioning has become a feasible strategy to accelerate the development of new drugs. In this study, the minimum inhibitory concentration of vitamin D3 (VD3) against C. neoformans was found to be 0.4 mg/mL by broth microdilution assay. The antifungal activities of VD3 were further verified by solid dilution assays and "time-kill" curves. The results showed that VD3 reduced fungal cell adhesion and hydrophobicity and inhibited biofilm formation at various developmental stages, as confirmed by crystal violet staining and the 2,3-bis(2-methoxy-4-nitro-5-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium-5-carboxanilide assay. Fluorescence staining of cellular components and a stress susceptibility assay indicated that VD3 compromised cell integrity. Reverse transcription quantitative PCR demonstrated that VD3 treatment upregulated the expression of fungal genes related to cell wall synthesis (i.e., CDA3, CHS3, FKS1, and AGS1). Moreover, VD3 enhanced cell membrane permeability and caused the accumulation of intracellular reactive oxygen species. Finally, VD3 significantly reduced the tissue fungal burden and prolonged the survival of Galleria mellonella larvae infected with C. neoformans. These results showed that VD3 could exert significant antifungal activities both in vitro and in vivo, demonstrating its potential application in the treatment of cryptococcal infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian Huang
- Public Center of Experimental Technology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou 646000, China
| | - Junwen Lei
- Public Center of Experimental Technology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou 646000, China
| | - Anni Ge
- Public Center of Experimental Technology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou 646000, China
| | - Wei Xiao
- Public Center of Experimental Technology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou 646000, China
| | - Caiyan Xin
- Public Center of Experimental Technology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou 646000, China
| | - Zhangyong Song
- Public Center of Experimental Technology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou 646000, China
| | - Jinping Zhang
- Public Center of Experimental Technology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou 646000, China
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Melaninization Reduces Cryptococcus neoformans Susceptibility to Mechanical Stress. mSphere 2023; 8:e0059122. [PMID: 36602315 PMCID: PMC9942553 DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00591-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Melanin is a complex pigment that is found in various fungal species and is associated with a multitude of protective functions against environmental stresses. In Cryptococcus neoformans, melanin is synthesized from exogenous substrate and deposited in the cell wall. Although melanin is often cited as a protector against mechanical stress, there is a paucity of direct experimental data supporting this claim. To probe whether melanin enhances cellular strength, we used ultrasonic cavitation and French cell press pressure to stress cryptococcal cells and then measured changes in cellular morphology and fragmentation for melanized and nonmelanized C. neoformans cells. Melanized yeast cells exhibited lower rates of fragmentation and greater cell areas than did nonmelanized yeast cells after sonication or French press passage. When subjected to French press passage, both melanized and nonmelanized cells exhibited responses that were dependent on their culture age. Our results indicate that melanization protects against some of the morphological changes, such as fragmentation and cellular shrinkage, that are initiated by mechanical energy derived from either sonic cavitation or French press passage, thus supporting the notion that this pigment provides mechanical strength for fungal cell walls. IMPORTANCE Melanin was shown in prior microbiological experiments to be associated with protection against environmental stressors, and it has often been cited as being associated with mechanical stress protection. However, there is a lack of direct experimentation to confirm this claim. We examined the responses of melanized and nonmelanized C. neoformans cells to sonication and French press passage, and we report differences in outcomes depending not only on melanization status but also on culture age. Such findings have important implications for the design and interpretation of laboratory experiments involving C. neoformans. In addition, the elucidation of some of the mechanical properties of melanin promotes further research into fungal melanin applications in health care and industry.
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Abstract
Candida species are commensal organisms commonly interacting in the same host niche. In the pathogenic state, they frequently grow as a biofilm, often in mixed infections. The present studies observe a reliance upon common extracellular vesicle cargo for biofilm structure and function supporting interactions among species. The results reveal a vesicle cargo-driven coordination among Candida species during biofilm formation. Extracellular vesicles mediate community interactions among cells ranging from unicellular microbes to complex vertebrates. Extracellular vesicles of the fungal pathogen Candida albicans are vital for biofilm communities to produce matrix, which confers environmental protection and modulates community dispersion. Infections are increasingly due to diverse Candida species, such as the emerging pathogen Candida auris, as well as mixed Candida communities. Here, we define the composition and function of biofilm-associated vesicles among five species across the Candida genus. We find similarities in vesicle size and release over the biofilm lifespan. Whereas overall cargo proteomes differ dramatically among species, a group of 36 common proteins is enriched for orthologs of C. albicans biofilm mediators. To understand the function of this set of proteins, we asked whether mutants in select components were important for key biofilm processes, including drug tolerance and dispersion. We found that the majority of these cargo components impact one or both biofilm processes across all five species. Exogenous delivery of wild-type vesicle cargo returned mutant phenotypes toward wild type. To assess the impact of vesicle cargo on interspecies interactions, we performed cross-species vesicle addition and observed functional complementation for both biofilm phenotypes. We explored the biologic relevance of this cross-species biofilm interaction in mixed species and mutant studies examining the drug-resistance phenotype. We found a majority of biofilm interactions among species restored the community’s wild-type behavior. Our studies indicate that vesicles influence the development of protective monomicrobial and mixed microbial biofilm communities.
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