Metabolomic analysis of low and high biofilm-forming Helicobacter pylori strains

Eric Hong Jian Wong,Chow Goon Ng,Khean Lee Goh,Bow Ho,Jamuna Vadivelu,Mun Fai Loke

doi:10.1038/s41598-018-19697-0

Eric Hong Jian Wong, Chow Goon Ng + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-19697-0

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Abstract

The biofilm-forming-capability of Helicobacter pylori has been suggested to be among factors influencing treatment outcome. However, H. pylori exhibit strain-to-strain differences in biofilm-forming-capability. Metabolomics enables the inference of spatial and temporal changes of metabolic activities during biofilm formation. Our study seeks to examine the differences in metabolome of low and high biofilm-formers using the metabolomic approach. Eight H. pylori clinical strains with different biofilm-forming-capability were chosen for metabolomic analysis. Bacterial metabolites were extracted using Bligh and Dyer method and analyzed by Liquid Chromatography/Quadrupole Time-of-Flight mass spectrometry. The data was processed and analyzed using the MassHunter Qualitative Analysis and the Mass Profiler Professional programs. Based on global metabolomic profiles, low and high biofilm-formers presented as two distinctly different groups. Interestingly, low-biofilm-formers produced more metabolites than high-biofilm-formers. Further analysis was performed to identify metabolites that differed significantly (p-value < 0.005) between low and high biofilm-formers. These metabolites include major categories of lipids and metabolites involve in prostaglandin and folate metabolism. Our findings suggest that biofilm formation in H. pylori is complex and probably driven by the bacterium’ endogenous metabolism. Understanding the underlying metabolic differences between low and high biofilm-formers may enhance our current understanding of pathogenesis, extragastric survival and transmission of H. pylori infections.

Highlights

Bacterial biofilm constitutes of a community of single or multiple species bacteria adhering onto any surface and encasing in an exopolysaccharide matrix[1,2,3]
To better understand the factors involved in the biofilm formation of H. pylori, this study used the metabolomic approach via liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS)
The data was analyzed using MassHunter Qualitative Analysis software to identify the differences between metabolomics profiles of low and high biofilm-forming H. pylori clinical strains

Summary

Introduction

Bacterial biofilm constitutes of a community of single or multiple species bacteria adhering onto any surface and encasing in an exopolysaccharide matrix[1,2,3]. We recently demonstrated that H. pylori has the ability to form biofilm on vegetables, which is a common food source for human, potentially plays an important role in its survival and transmission of in the extragastric environment[12]. Metabolomic differences between low and high biofilm-forming H. pylori have not been investigated. To better understand the factors involved in the biofilm formation of H. pylori, this study used the metabolomic approach via liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS). The data was analyzed using MassHunter Qualitative Analysis software to identify the differences between metabolomics profiles of low and high biofilm-forming H. pylori clinical strains. In this study, bacterial metabolites of pre-biofilm H. pylori cultures (i.e. day 0 to 3) were analyzed to identify metabolites that may influence the initiation of biofilm formation

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