Enhanced high copy number plasmid maintenance and heterologous protein production in an Escherichia coli biofilm

Escherichia coli has been widely used for heterologu protein production (HPP). To determine whether a biofilm environment could benefit E. coli HPP using high copy number plasmids, we compared plasmid maintenance and HPP by E. coli ATCC 33456 containing plasmid pEGFP (a pUC family vector) cultivated in biofilms and in suspended culture. Cells were grown with or without antibiotic selective pressure in flow cells or chemostats for up to 6 days. In biofilms, antibiotic selective pressure increased the plsmid copy number (PCN), but by 144 h, biofilms grown in antibiotic-free media had comparable plasmid concentrations. In the chemostat, the PCN declined steadily, although 100 ppm ampicillin in the medium slowed the rate of plasmid loss. Production of green fluorescent protein (GFP), a representative heterologous protein, was quantified by flow cytometry. In biofilms, at ampicellin concentrations >= 33 ppm, strongly fluorescent cells comprised more than half of the population by 48 h. In the chemostat, more than 50% of the production was non-fluorscent by 48 h in media containing 100 ppm ampicillin, and strongly fluorescent cells were < 10 % of the population. Biofilm structure was determined by confocal microscopy. Maximum biofilm thickness ranged from 30 to 45 microns, with no significant changes in biofilm structure after 48 h. Plasmid multimer percentages were similar to inocula for cells cultivated in either biofilms or the chemostat. The results indicate that the biofilm environment enhanced both plasmid maintenance and cellular GFP concentrations, and that low levels of antibiotic increased the beneficial effect.