Determining the potential use of biosurfactants in preventing endodontic infections

Abstract

Microbial biofilms play a dominant role in the failure of endodontic therapies. Bacterial adhesion is the first step in the establishment of biofilms, activating the host immune response leading to tissue damage. Biosurfactants are microbe‐derived tensioactive molecules with latent anti‐adhesive and anti‐microbial activity. This study reports the extraction and characterization of a biosurfactant from Lactobacillus (L.) plantarum (Lp‐BS) and investigates its anti‐microbial and anti‐adhesive properties compared to rhamnolipid, a commercially available biosurfactant. Lp‐BS, extracted from L. plantarum during the growth phase, was characterized as a glycoprotein, able to reduce surface tension and emulsify non‐polar liquids. Proteomic analysis of Lp‐BS identified three bacterial adhesin‐like proteins, suggesting roles in hindering bacterial adhesion. Lp‐BS did not show significant anti‐microbial activity against endodontic pathogens from the Streptococcus (Strep.) anginosus group or Enterococcus (Ent.) faecalis at 50 mg/ml. However, anti‐adhesive activity on abiotic surfaces was observed against both Strep. anginosus and Strep. intermedius. Rhamnolipid exhibited strong anti‐microbial activity, with minimum inhibitory concentrations of 0.097 mg/ml against Strep. anginosus, and 0.048 mg/ml against Strep. constellatus and Strep. intermedius, in addition to a marked anti‐adhesive activity. These findings offer preliminary evidence for the potential application of biosurfactants as an anti‐microbial and/or anti‐adhesive pharmacotherapy in endodontics.

Isolation and characterization of two glycolipopeptids biosurfactants produced by a Lactiplantibacillus plantarum OL5 strain isolated from green olive curing water

“…9). Similar results were reported by (Hashim et al 2022)showing that following separation of Lactobacillus plantarum biosurfactant on SDS-PAGE gel and staining with Coomassie blue, several protein bands were observed with molecular weight extending from 10-150 kDa. In a similar study, (Heinemann et al 2000)used SDS-PAGE electrophoresis to determine the chemical structure of biosurfactants synthesized by Lactobacillus fermentum RC 14 after an 18-h culture on MRS medium.…”

Biosurfactants: Moving Towards Healthcare Applications

“…In healthcare environments where infection control is paramount, biosurfactants have emerged as valuable allies in the battle against microbial threats. Their unique properties make them ideal candidates for incorporation into disinfectants and antiseptic formulations (Hashim et al,2022). Biosurfactants, with their amphiphilic nature, can remarkably disrupt bacterial cell membranes and inhibit biofilm formation.…”

Physiological and Transcriptomic Analyses of Escherichia coli Serotype O157:H7 in Response to Rhamnolipid Treatment

“…Many natural and synthetic compounds have anti-biofilm activities that function through a variety of mechanisms to inhibit biofilm formation [ 9 ]. Amphipathic biosurfactants, which have both hydrophilic and hydrophobic moieties, can combat pathogenic bacterial biofilm formation by reducing surface tension and emulsifying immiscible phases [ 12 , 13 ]. Rhamnolipid (RL) is a well-studied biosurfactant that is produced by bacteria including Pseudomonas spp.…”