FIG 3.

Induction of pelA but not pslG gene expression coincides with a reduction in biofilm biomass and dispersion events, as evidenced by absorbance increases in the biofilm effluent. (A) Representative confocal images of 5-day-old biofilms by PAO1 prior to and after the induction of pelA and pslG gene expression. Induction of gene expression was accomplished by adding arabinose to the growth medium. Scale bars, 100 μm. (B) Biofilm biomass, as determined using COMSTAT analysis, prior the induction of dispersion. Experiments were performed in triplicate, with each biological replicate consisting of four technical replicates. (C) Fold change in the biofilm biomass after the induction of dispersion by the addition of arabinose. The biofilm biomass prior to and after arabinose addition was quantitated using COMSTAT. Experiments were performed in triplicate, with each biological replicate consisting of 4 technical replicates. **, Significantly different (P < 0.05) relative to PAO1/pMJT-1 biofilms used as controls. (D) Detection of dispersion events after the induction of pelA and pslG gene expression, with gene expression being induced upon addition of 1% arabinose to the growth medium. Different colors represent biological replicates.