Mycobacterium Von Willebrand factor protein MSMEG_3641 is involved in biofilm formation and intracellular survival

biofilm is associated with the virulence and persistence capability. Our aim is to delineate factors involved in biofilms development. We performed transposon mutants screen and found that mutation of MSMEG_3641, a homolog of Rv1836c, can change colony morphology and biofilm. MSMEG_3641 contains a vWA domain that is highly conserved among . The phenotypes of MSMEG_3641 mutants include disrupted biofilm, weakened migration ability and changed colony morphology. All phenotypes might be contributed to the enhanced cell wall permeability and declined cell aggregation ability. To our knowledge, this is the first report concerning the mycobacteria Von Willebrand factor domain function, especially in colony morphology and biofilm development.