ALG8 and infection: In contrast, the two genes involved in biofilm synthesis—alg8, a glycosyltransferase in the synthesis of the exopolysaccharide alginate [17], and algE, the outer membrane porin through which alginate exits the cell [18]—were most highly expressed on post-infection day 5, being ~14- and ~5-fold elevated, respectively, over their levels at the 24 hr time point.