Induction of Native c-di-GMP Phosphodiesterases Leads to Dispersal of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Biofilms.

A decade of research has shown that the molecule c-di-GMP functions as a central second messenger in many bacteria. A high level of c-di-GMP is associated with biofilm formation, whereas a low level of c-di-GMP is associated with a planktonic single-cell bacterial lifestyle. c-di-GMP is formed by diguanylate cyclases and is degraded by specific phosphodiesterases. We previously presented evidence that the ectopic expression of the phosphodiesterase YhjH in results in biofilm dispersal. More recently, however, evidence has been presented that the induction of native c-di-GMP phosphodiesterases does not lead to a dispersal of biofilms. The latter result may discourage attempts to use c-di-GMP signaling as a target for the development of antibiofilm drugs. However, here, we demonstrate that the induction of the c-di-GMP phosphodiesterases PA2133 and BifA indeed results in the dispersal of biofilms in both a microtiter tray biofilm assay and a flow cell biofilm system.