Effect of Sugars on Biofilm Formation by Escherichia coli O157:H7

Abstract

The effects of sugars on biofilm formation by Escherichia coli O157:H7 were investigated by microtiter plate assay. In the cultivation using the medium containing a monosaccharide such as D-glucose, D-galactose, D-mannose, D-xylose, L-arabinose, L-fucose and L-rhamnose for 7 days, active biofilm formation was observed at 1 day, and then the level of biofilm formation decreased gradually after 3 day. When the bacterium was cultivated in medium containing 0.4, 0.04 or 0.004% of monosaccharides for 1 day, a low level of biofilm formation was observed in the medium containing 0.4% D-mannose or L-rhamnose. However, only D-mannose suppressed biofilm formation in the presence of other sugars such as D-glucose.