Disintegration of Staphylococcus epidermidis Biofilms under Glucose-Limiting Conditions Depends on the Activity of the Alternative Sigma Factor σB

摘要

To evaluate the role of the polysaccharide intercellular adhesin as an energy-storage molecule, we investigated the effect of nutrient limitation on S. epidermidis biofilms. The stability of established biofilms depends on σB activity; however, the slow decay of biofilms under conditions of nutrient limitation reveal its use as an energy-storage molecule to be unlikely.