CATASAN Is a New Anti-Biofilm Agent Produced by the Marine Antarctic Bacterium Psychrobacter sp. TAE2020

Abstract

The development of new approaches to prevent microbial surface adhesion and biofilm formation is an emerging need following the growing understanding of the impact of biofilm-related infections on human health. Staphylococcus epidermidis, with its ability to form biofilm and colonize biomaterials, represents the most frequent causative agent involved in infections of medical devices. In the research of new anti-biofilm agents against S. epidermidis biofilm, Antarctic marine bacteria represent an untapped reservoir of biodiversity. In the present study, the attention was focused on Psychrobacter sp. TAE2020, an Antarctic marine bacterium that produces molecules able to impair the initial attachment of S. epidermidis strains to the polystyrene surface. The setup of suitable purification protocols allowed the identification by NMR spectroscopy and LC-MS/MS analysis of a protein–polysaccharide complex named CATASAN. This complex proved to be a very effective anti-biofilm agent. Indeed, it not only interferes with cell surface attachment, but also prevents biofilm formation and affects the mature biofilm matrix structure of S. epidermidis. Moreover, CATASAN is endowed with a good emulsification activity in a wide range of pH and temperature. Therefore, its use can be easily extended to different biotechnological applications.

Structure and functions of a multireplicon genome of Antarctic Psychrobacter sp. ANT_H3: characterization of the genetic modules suitable for the construction of the plasmid-vectors for cold-active bacteria

“…From the biotechnological point of view, Psychrobacter spp. are important not only as native producers of various biologically active compounds (Styczynski et al 2022a ; D’Angelo et al 2022 ) but also as potential heterological hosts for overexpression of genes of other bacteria, including psychrotolerant ones, like it was previously developed for Pseudoalteromonas haloplanktis TAC125 (Duilio et al 2004 ). Using Psychrobacter spp.…”

Cold-Azurin, a New Antibiofilm Protein Produced by the Antarctic Marine Bacterium Pseudomonas sp. TAE6080

“…For the surface coating assay [17], a volume of 5 µL of the tested sample was deposited onto the center of a well of a 24-well tissue-culture-treated polystyrene microtiter plate. The plate was incubated at room temperature to allow complete evaporation of the liquid in sterile conditions.…”

“…Due to the key role of biofilm in bacteria fitness in extreme conditions [12], the production of antibiofilm molecules could reduce the competitors' survival. Indeed, several papers report that marine Antarctic bacteria produce and secrete antibiofilm molecules [13][14][15][16][17][18].…”

Comprehensive insights on environmental adaptation strategies in Antarctic bacteria and biotechnological applications of cold adapted molecules

“…Recently, a new anti-biofilm agent called "CATASAN" has been found in Antarctic bacteria Psychrobacter sp. TAE2020 which can be used against the human pathogen Staphylococcus epidermidis (D' Angelo et al, 2022). Similarly, another Antarctic bacteria Pseudomonas sp.…”