The Union Is Strength: The Synergic Action of Long Fatty Acids and a Bacteriophage against Xanthomonas campestris Biofilm

Abstract

Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris is known as the causative agent of black rot disease, which attacks mainly crucifers, severely lowering their global productivity. One of the main virulence factors of this pathogen is its capability to penetrate and form biofilm structures in the xylem vessels. The discovery of novel approaches to crop disease management is urgent and a possible treatment could be aimed at the eradication of biofilm, although anti-biofilm approaches in agricultural microbiology are still rare. Considering the multifactorial nature of biofilm, an effective approach against Xanthomonas campestris implies the use of a multi-targeted or combinatorial strategy. In this paper, an anti-biofilm strategy based on the use of fatty acids and the bacteriophage (Xccφ1)-hydroxyapatite complex was optimized against Xanthomonas campestris mature biofilm. The synergic action of these elements was demonstrated and the efficient removal of Xanthomonas campestris mature biofilm was also proven in a flow cell system, making the proposed approach an effective solution to enhance plant survival in Xanthomonas campestris infections. Moreover, the molecular mechanisms responsible for the efficacy of the proposed treatment were explored.

Bacterial Biofilm Destruction: A Focused Review On The Recent Use of Phage-Based Strategies With Other Antibiofilm Agents

“…However, to achieve optimum synergy, phage treatment must precede antibiotics, as demonstrated in these studies. 122 , 123 Papaianni and his team 107 applied a combinatorial antibiofilm strategy based on the use of fatty acids and the bacteriophage Xccɸ1-hydroxyapatite complex optimized against Xanthomonas campestris mature biofilm. The synergic action of these elements was demonstrated and the efficient removal of X. campestris mature biofilm was also proven in a flow cell system, making the proposed approach an effective solution to enhance plant survival in X. campestris infections.…”

“…The synergic action of these elements was demonstrated and the efficient removal of X. campestris mature biofilm was also proven in a flow cell system, making the proposed approach an effective solution to enhance plant survival in X. campestris infections. 107 Manoharadas and his associates 111 demonstrated a concerted action of green synthesized silver nanoparticles and bacteriophages in removing pre-formed S. aureus biofilms from an inert glass surface in a time dependent manner. The results demonstrated, for the first time, the rapid cooperative dispersion of the bacterial biofilm.…”

Special Issue: Bacteriophage Treatment as an Alternative Technology to Inactivate Pathogenic Bacteria: A Generalized Worldwide Growing Acceptance

“…This Special Issue highlights recent advances in some of these areas. It includes fourteen papers focused on the use of phage therapy in a clinical setting, namely, to fight infections caused by multidrug-resistant bacteria [10][11][12] and by bacteria capable of forming biofilms [13], and in non-clinical fields, namely in the agro-food sector [14][15][16][17], including also the inactivation of bacteria forming biofilms [18,19]. Two of the papers [11,17] focus on the development of phage-resistant mutants after phage therapy, which is an important aspect for both clinical and non-clinical applications.…”

“…Two of the papers [11,17] focus on the development of phage-resistant mutants after phage therapy, which is an important aspect for both clinical and non-clinical applications. Five of the published papers in this Special Issue refer to some strategies to prevent the development of phage-resistant mutants, namely by the use of combined approaches, such as the use of antibiotics [12,20], fatty acids [18], essential oil [19], and mucin [21] during phage treatment. Four of the papers include in vivo studies in animals [14,15,22] and plants [23].…”

“…In the agriculture area, phage therapy combined with fatty acids showed effective activity against mature biofilms of Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris, the causative agent of black rot disease, which attacks mainly crucifers and severely lowers their global productivity [18]. Also, phage therapy combined with an essential oil, the carvacrol, presented activity against Pseudomonas syringae pv.…”