The Edwardsiella piscicida Type III Translocon Protein EseC Inhibits Biofilm Formation by Sequestering EseE

Abstract

Edwardsiella piscicida , previously known as Edwardsiella tarda , is a Gram-negative intracellular pathogen that mainly infects fish. The type III secretion system (T3SS) plays a pivotal role in its pathogenesis. The T3SS translocon protein EseB is required for the assembly of filamentous appendages on the surface of E. piscicida . The interactions between the appendages facilitate autoaggregation and biofilm formation. In this study, we explored the role of the other two translocon proteins, EseC and EseD, in biofilm formation. We have demonstrated that EseC, but not EseD, inhibits the autoaggregation and biofilm formation of E. piscicida , providing new insights into the regulatory mechanism involved in E. piscicida biofilm formation.