FIG 6.

A simple rotation assay revealed that biofilms of the a/a tec1Δ/tec1Δ mutant, but not the a/a P37005 and a/a cph1Δ/cph1Δ strains, are highly fragile. Each 12-well plate containing 48-h silicone elastomer-supported biofilms was transferred from a slow rocker to a titer plate shaker and rotated for 15 s at 250 rpm. (A) Rocking and rotation assay. (B) All biofilms of parental strain a/a P37005 in two experiments remained attached to silicone elastomers after rotation. One of them showed a single tear, but the remaining 11 were intact. (C) Biofilms of the a/a cph1Δ/cph1Δ mutant remained intact, but two were released from the silicone elastomer during rotation. The asterisks denote release from the silicone elastomer. (D) All biofilms of the a/a tec1Δ/tec1Δ mutant were released from the silicone elastomers and underwent fragmentation after rotation.