Figure 1. Temperature upshifts induce biofilm dispersal.

(A) P. aeruginosa biofilms were grown in continuous flow microfermentor cultures at 25 °C, 30 °C or 37 °C for 24 h, before switching the temperature. The biofilm effluent was collected at regular intervals and quantified at OD₆₀₀. (B) P. aeruginosa strains carrying the empty vector pJN105 (ctrl) or pJN105-wspR (iDGC) which allows for the arabinose-inducible expression of the DGC WspR were grown in microfermentors for 24 h at 30 °C without arabinose. Then, the biofilms were treated with 2% arabinose (ara) or left untreated for 1 h before increasing the temperature. Solid arrows indicate temperature upshift or downshift, while dashed arrow indicates addition of arabinose. The data shown are representatives from at least 2 (A), 25 °C to 30 °C, 37 °C to 45 °C and temperature decreases) or 3 (A), 25 °C or 30 °C to 37 °C; (B) independent replicate experiments.