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Distribution of Bacterial Proteins in Biofilms Formed by Non-typeable Haemophilus influenzae

Paul Webster, Siva Wu, Gerardo Gomez, Michael Apicella, Andrew G. Plaut and Joseph W. St. Geme, III

Ahmanson Advanced Electron Microscopy and Imaging Center, House Ear Institute, Los Angeles, California (PW,SW,GG); Department of Microbiology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa (MA); Gastroenterology Research, Tufts-New England Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts (AGP); and Department of Pediatrics, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina (JWSG)

Correspondence to: Paul Webster, PhD, Director, Ahmanson Advanced Electron Microscopy and Imaging Center, House Ear Institute, 2100 West Third Street, Los Angeles, CA 90057. E-mail: pwebster{at}hei.org

The ability to preserve the fragile ultrastructural organization of bacterial biofilms using cryo-preparation methods for electron microscopy has enabled us to probe sections through non-typeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi) biofilms and determine the localization of NTHi-specific lipooligosaccharide (LOS) and proteins within these structures. Some of the proteins we examined are currently being considered as candidates for vaccine development, so it is important that their distribution and accessibility within the biofilms formed by NTHi be determined. We have localized LOS to the extracellular matrix (ECM) of the biofilm and the P6 outer membrane protein to the membrane of what appear to be viable bacteria within the biofilm. The Hap and HWM1/HMW2 adhesive proteins were associated with bacteria within the biofilm and were present in the biofilm ECM. The IgA1 protease is a secreted protein that was also associated with NTHi in the biofilm and was in the ECM, but was more concentrated in the top region of the biofilm, suggesting a role in protecting biofilm bacteria from antibody attack. (J Histochem Cytochem 54:829–842, 2006)

Key Words: OMP P6 • HMW proteins • Hap protein • IgA1 protease • electron microscopy • extracellular matrix • immunocytochemistry • stereology

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