Effect of free DNA of environment surface water on bacterial biofilm formation

Abstract

Bacteriophages, commonly referred to as bacterial viruses, have long been recognized as natural adversaries of bacteria. They find application in medical settings for eliminating bacterial infections. The prevalence of bacteriophages in the environment experiences seasonal fluctuations, with an increase contributing to elevated bacterial infections and subsequent reduction in bacterial numbers, and vice versa. Bacteriophages inject their genetic material into bacterial cells, leading to replication within. Upon reaching maturity, these viral predators rupture the bacterial cell, releasing all its contents, including free DNA, into the surrounding environment. Faced with such adverse conditions, bacteria often respond by forming biofilms to protect themselves from these viral invaders. This study seeks to explore whether the free DNA introduced by Bacteriophages influences the formation of bacterial biofilms. Biofilms of a number of vibrio cholerae strains that cause diseases cholera and diarrhea during the months of May to June were subjected to free DNA. Methods of data collection and its effects were observed and analyzed using appropriate statistical analysis. The resulting data and statistical analysis suggests that there is an increase of Bacteriophage in the water which releases free DNA in the environment that causes induction of the biofilms. However, in order to provide any conclusive evidence, round the year study including more samples is required. So the presence of free DNA appears to have a discernible impact on biofilm production, highlighting its potential role in influencing bacterial behavior and community dynamics.