Biofilm formation by Acinetobacter baumannii strains isolated from urinary tract infection and urinary catheters

Nadia Kazemi Pour1, Devendra H. Dusane2, Prashant K. Dhakephalkar3, Farokh Rokhbakhsh Zamin1,2, Smita S. Zinjarde2, Balu A. Chopade1,2
1

Department of Microbiology, University of Pune, Pune, India;2 Institute of Bioinformatics and Biotechnology, University of Pune, Pune, India;3 Microbial Sciences Division, Agharkar Research Institute, Pune, India

FEMS Immunology & Medical Microbiology Early View (Online Version of Record published before inclusion in an issue)

Additional Information How to Cite Pour, N. K., Dusane, D. H., Dhakephalkar, P. K., Zamin, F. R., Zinjarde, S. S. and Chopade, B. A. (2011), Biofilm formation by Acinetobacter baumannii strains isolated from urinary tract infection and urinary catheters. FEMS Immunology & Medical Microbiology, 62: no. doi: 10.1111/j.1574-695X.2011.00818.x *Correspondence: Correspondence: Balu A. Chopade, Institute of Bioinformatics and Biotechnology, University of Pune, Pune 411 007, India. Tel.: +91 20 256 904 42; fax: +91 20 256 900 87; e-mail: directoribb@unipune.ac.in Editor: Richard Marconi

Abstract
Fifty Acinetobacter isolates were obtained from urinary tract infections and urinary catheter samples. Analytical profile index assays identified 47 isolates as Acinetobacter baumannii and three as Acinetobacter lwoffii. Six A. baumannii isolates (A1A6) displayed hydrophobicity indices >70%. Twenty isolates exhibited lectin activity. Biofilm formation by these isolates was compared with those with low hydrophobicity index values (A45A50). Biofilms on different surfaces were confirmed by light microscopy, epifluorescence microscopy and by obtaining scanning electron microscope images. Biofilm production was maximal at 30 C, pH 7.0 in a medium with 5.0 g L1 NaCl, and its efficiency was reduced on urinary catheter surfaces at sub-minimum inhibitory concentration concentrations of colistin. Plasmid-mediated antibiotic resistance was observed in selected isolates of A. baumannii and experiments of conjugation and transformation showed the occurrence of gene transfer. Plasmid curing was used to examine the function of plasmids. Five plasmids of A. baumannii A3 were cured but no differences were observed between wild-type and plasmid-cured strains with respect to the biofilm formation capabilities. The prevalence of A. baumannii strains with biofilm mode of growth could explain their ability to persist in clinical environments and their role in device-related infections.

Publication History 1. 2. 3. Article first published online: 28 JUN 2011 Accepted manuscript online: 13 MAY 2011 09:49AM EST Received 25 December 2010; revised 22 April 2011; accepted 2 May 2011.

Keywords: Biofilm; cell surface hydrophobicity; chromosomal DNA transformation assay; lectins; plasmid curing; urinary tract infections