Role of (p)ppGpp in biofilm formation by E. faecalis.
Enterococcus faecalis strain OG1RF and its (p)ppGpp-deficient mutants ΔrelA, ΔrelQ and ΔrelAΔrelQ were grown in biofilms and evaluated for growth profiles, biofilm morphology, cell viability, and proteolytic activity. E. faecalis lacking (p)ppGpp had a diminished capacity to sustain biofilm formation over an extended period of time, and expressed abundant proteolytic activity.
