Figure 4.

Rv1717 expression in M. smegmatis impairs biofilm growth and autoaggregation. (A) Colony color and morphology of Msm^Rv1717 and Msm^pMV261 on Middlebrook (MB) 7H10 agar plates containing 100 μg/ml Congo red. (B) Pellicle formation by Msm^Rv1717 and Msm^pMV261 at air-liquid interface of Sauton’s medium on third and fifth days. Biofilm biomass on day 5 was quantified using crystal violet (absorbance at 595 nm). (C) Confocal laser scanning microscopy image of biofilms stained with BacLight Green™ fluorescent stain obtained using 63× oil immersion objective. Arrow heads in left panel point to possible nutrient/water channels (D) Autoaggregation property of either strain measured as aggregation index (% fall in OD₆₀₀), was monitored at 1 min intervals up to 10 min. Statistical significance of data wherever applicable is indicated by ^*p < 0.05; ^***p < 0.001. Data plotted are mean ± SD of three independent experiments.