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The rugose colony variant of Vibrio cholerae O1, biotype El Tor, is shown to produce an exopolysaccharide, EPS ETr , that confers chlorine resistance and biofilm-forming capacity. EPS ETr production requires a chromosomal locus, vps , that contains sequences homologous to carbohydrate biosynthesis genes of other bacterial species. Mutations within this locus yield chlorine-sensitive, smooth colony variants that are biofilm deficient. The biofilm-forming properties of EPS ETr may enable the survival of V. cholerae O1 within environmental aquatic habitats between outbreaks of human disease.
Yildiz et al. (Tue,) studied this question.