RESUMO
AIM: Experimental production, characterization and evaluation of the role of cholera vibrio biofilm. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 33 strains of Vibrio cholerae eltor O1 and V. cholerae O139 of various epidemic significance and origin were studied in a series of experiments by bacteriologic, microscopic (light-optic, luminescent, scanning electron microscopy), molecular genetics, spectrophotometric and statistical methods. RESULTS: Formation of a biofilm involving inter-cellular bonds, pili and extracellular material and variability of the microorganism (RO-phenotype and transition into uncultivable forms) was shown at various temperature and substrate conditions. A more pronounced ability to form biofilms was detected for strains isolated from environmental samples compared with isolated from clinical material regardless of their epidemic significance. Toxigenic strains of eltor biovar (from surface reservoirs during cholera outbreaks) have demonstrated the highest parameters of optical density compared with toxigenic clinical isolates and non-toxigenic O1 and O139 serogroup cultures. The presence of mbaA1 and mbaA2, vpsR, toxR, hapA genes is common for strains that form a biofilm. CONCLUSION: The data obtained confirm the role of biofilm in reservation of cholera vibrio strains of various epidemic significance in saprophytic phase of microorganism existence.