Small molecule control of bacterial biofilms

Worthington, Roberta J.; Richards, Justin J.; Melander, Christian

doi:10.1039/c2ob25835h

Cited by 259 publications

(224 citation statements)

References 168 publications

(321 reference statements)

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“…Due to the increased biocide tolerance of bacteria in biofilms, finding molecules that can control biofilm attracts considerable interest (4). Recent publications have indicated that certain polyamines may possess such properties.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of Norspermidine and Spermidine on Biofilm Formation by Potentially Pathogenic Escherichia coli and Salmonella enterica Wild-Type Strains

Nesse

Berg

Vestby

2015

Appl Environ Microbiol

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Polyamines are present in all living cells. In bacteria, polyamines are involved in a variety of functions, including biofilm formation, thus indicating that polyamines may have potential in the control of unwanted biofilm. In the present study, the effects of the polyamines norspermidine and spermidine on biofilms of 10 potentially pathogenic wild-type strains of Escherichia coli serotype O103:H2, Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Typhimurium, and S. enterica serovar Agona were investigated. We found that exogenously supplied norspermidine and spermidine did not mediate disassembly of preformed biofilm of any of the E. coli and S. enterica strains. However, the polyamines did affect biofilm production. Interestingly, the two species reacted differently to the polyamines. Both polyamines reduced the amount of biofilm formed by E. coli but tended to increase biofilm formation by S. enterica. Whether the effects observed were due to the polyamines specifically targeting biofilm formation, being toxic for the cells, or maybe a combination of the two, is not known. However, there were no indications that the effect was mediated through binding to exopolysaccharides, as earlier suggested for E. coli. Our results indicate that norspermidine and spermidine do not have potential as inhibitors of S. enterica biofilm. Furthermore, we found that the commercial polyamines used contributed to the higher pH of the test medium. Failure to acknowledge and control this important phenomenon may lead to misinterpretation of the results.T he ability to form complex multicellular communities such as biofilms has been linked to persistence and survival of pathogens in food and feed processing environments (1-3). Due to the increased biocide tolerance of bacteria in biofilms, finding molecules that can control biofilm attracts considerable interest (4). Recent publications have indicated that certain polyamines may possess such properties.Polyamines are small aliphatic hydrocarbon molecules with quaternary nitrogen groups that have a net positive charge at physiological pH. They are present in all living cells. In bacteria, polyamines are involved in a variety of functions, including intercellular signaling, stress resistance, and RNA and protein synthesis, as well as motility and virulence (5-13). Some polyamines have also been shown to play an essential role in biofilm formation, i.e., putrescine in Yersinia pestis (14) and Escherichia coli (15), spermidine in Bacillus subtilis (16), and norspermidine in Vibrio cholerae (17). Burell et al. suggested that a role in biofilm formation may be an ancient physiological function of polyamines in bacteria (16).In addition to de novo polyamine synthesis systems, bacteria have transport systems that allow uptake of extracellular polyamines. Interestingly, exogenous spermidine has been reported to inhibit biofilm formation by Vibrio cholerae (18) and Neisseria gonorrhoeae (19). Kolkodin-Gal et al. reported that Bacillus subtilis produced biofilm disassembly factors, one of which was ...

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confidence: 99%

Effects of Norspermidine and Spermidine on Biofilm Formation by Potentially Pathogenic Escherichia coli and Salmonella enterica Wild-Type Strains

Nesse

Berg

Vestby

2015

Appl Environ Microbiol

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“…Quorum sensing (QS) signaling systems are responsible for the coordination of gene expression at a bacterial community level, which includes controlling the expression of virulence factors, as well as influencing the formation of biofilms (19,54). Many natural products act as quorum sensing inhibitors, and therefore have beneficial effects towards reducing biofilm formation (54).…”

Section: Small Molecules With Antibiofilm Activity That Reduce Virulencementioning

confidence: 99%

Current Research Approaches to Target Biofilm Infections.

E¹,

Lewenza²,

Reckseidler-Zenteno³

2015

PDJ

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This review will focus on strategies to develop new treatments that target the biofilm mode of growth and that can be used to treat biofilm infections. These approaches aim to reduce or inhibit biofilm formation, or to increase biofilm dispersion. Many antibiofilm compounds are not bactericidal but render the cells in a planktonic growth state, which are more susceptible to antibiotics and more easily cleared by the immune system. Novel compounds are being developed with antibiofilm activity that includes antimicrobial peptides, natural products, small molecules and polymers. Bacteriophages are being considered for use in treating biofilms, as well as the use of enzymes that degrade the extracellular matrix polymers to dissolve biofilms. There is great potential in these new approaches for use in treating chronic biofilm infections.

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“…7 As such, much research has focused on the development of preventive techniques that inhibit biofilm formation, and remediation techniques that induce biofilm dispersal (anti-biofilm agents), with the anticipation that they will increase eradication efficacy and decrease chemical load when used in combination with low doses of biocides. 8 Free radical and redox processes within bacterial biofilms are critical to the life cycle of the biofilm because they trigger events that include cell proliferation and survival, enzyme inhibition, cell death and cell transformation. 9 These processes often rely on "redox shuttling" aided by polymers within the biofilm matrix itself.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%