Abstract 1588 Exploring Regulatory Mechanisms of Mannitol-Driven Biofilm Formation in Vibrio cholerae

Vibrio cholerae is the causative agent of cholera disease, which causes severe diarrhea and dehydration and can be fatal within hours if left untreated. There were over 500,000 cases and 4,000 deaths due to cholera reported in 2023. One mechanism that V. cholerae employs for its survival is the formation of biofilms. Biofilms are multicellular surface-associated communities of bacteria embedded in an extracellular matrix comprised of polysaccharides, DNA, and proteins excreted by the bacteria. These structures promote bacterial persistence in aquatic environments, evasion of host immune systems, and antibiotic resistance.