scholarly journals Antimicrobial and Antibiofilm Activity of a Recombinant Fragment of β-Thymosin of Sea Urchin Paracentrotus lividus

Marine Drugs ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 16 (10) ◽  
pp. 366 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angelo Spinello ◽  
Maria Cusimano ◽  
Domenico Schillaci ◽  
Luigi Inguglia ◽  
Giampaolo Barone ◽  
...  

With the aim to obtain new antimicrobials against important pathogens such as Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, we focused on antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) from Echinoderms. An example of such peptides is Paracentrin 1 (SP1), a chemically synthesised peptide fragment of a sea urchin thymosin. In the present paper, we report on the biological activity of a Paracentrin 1 derivative obtained by recombination. The recombinant paracentrin RP1, in comparison to the synthetic SP1, is 22 amino acids longer and it was considerably more active against the planktonic forms of S. aureus ATCC 25923 and P. aeruginosa ATCC 15442 at concentrations of 50 µg/mL. Moreover, it was able to inhibit biofilm formation of staphylococcal and P. aeruginosa strains at concentrations equal to 5.0 and 10.7 µg/mL, respectively. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations allowed to rationalise the results of the experimental investigations, providing atomistic insights on the binding of RP1 toward models of mammalian and bacterial cell membranes. Overall, the results obtained point out that RP1 shows a remarkable preference for bacterial membranes, in excellent agreement with the antibacterial activity, highlighting the promising potential of using the tested peptide as a template for the development of novel antimicrobial agents.


2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (24) ◽  
pp. 2807-2816 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yun Su Jang ◽  
Tímea Mosolygó

: Bacteria within biofilms are more resistant to antibiotics and chemical agents than planktonic bacteria in suspension. Treatment of biofilm-associated infections inevitably involves high dosages and prolonged courses of antimicrobial agents; therefore, there is a potential risk of the development of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Due to the high prevalence of AMR and its association with biofilm formation, investigation of more effective anti-biofilm agents is required. : From ancient times, herbs and spices have been used to preserve foods, and their antimicrobial, anti-biofilm and anti-quorum sensing properties are well known. Moreover, phytochemicals exert their anti-biofilm properties at sub-inhibitory concentrations without providing the opportunity for the emergence of resistant bacteria or harming the host microbiota. : With increasing scientific attention to natural phytotherapeutic agents, numerous experimental investigations have been conducted in recent years. The present paper aims to review the articles published in the last decade in order to summarize a) our current understanding of AMR in correlation with biofilm formation and b) the evidence of phytotherapeutic agents against bacterial biofilms and their mechanisms of action. The main focus has been put on herbal anti-biofilm compounds tested to date in association with Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and food-borne pathogens (Salmonella spp., Campylobacter spp., Listeria monocytogenes and Escherichia coli).



Antibiotics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 625
Author(s):  
Fatma Y. Ahmed ◽  
Usama Farghaly Aly ◽  
Rehab Mahmoud Abd El-Baky ◽  
Nancy G. F. M. Waly

Most of the infections caused by multi-drug resistant (MDR) P. aeruginosa strains are extremely difficult to be treated with conventional antibiotics. Biofilm formation and efflux pumps are recognized as the major antibiotic resistance mechanisms in MDR P. aeruginosa. Biofilm formation by P. aeruginosa depends mainly on the cell-to-cell communication quorum-sensing (QS) systems. Titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TDN) have been used as antimicrobial agents against several microorganisms but have not been reported as an anti-QS agent. This study aims to evaluate the impact of titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TDN) on QS and efflux pump genes expression in MDR P. aeruginosa isolates. The antimicrobial susceptibility of 25 P. aeruginosa isolates were performed by Kirby–Bauer disc diffusion. Titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TDN) were prepared by the sol gel method and characterized by different techniques (DLS, HR-TEM, XRD, and FTIR). The expression of efflux pumps in the MDR isolates was detected by the determination of MICs of different antibiotics in the presence and absence of carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone (CCCP). Biofilm formation and the antibiofilm activity of TDN were determined using the tissue culture plate method. The effects of TDN on the expression of QS genes and efflux pump genes were tested using real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The average size of the TDNs was 64.77 nm. It was found that TDN showed a significant reduction in biofilm formation (96%) and represented superior antibacterial activity against P. aeruginosa strains in comparison to titanium dioxide powder. In addition, the use of TDN alone or in combination with antibiotics resulted in significant downregulation of the efflux pump genes (MexY, MexB, MexA) and QS-regulated genes (lasR, lasI, rhll, rhlR, pqsA, pqsR) in comparison to the untreated isolate. TDN can increase the therapeutic efficacy of traditional antibiotics by affecting efflux pump expression and quorum-sensing genes controlling biofilm production.



Biomolecules ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 652 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angela Di Somma ◽  
Antonio Moretta ◽  
Carolina Canè ◽  
Arianna Cirillo ◽  
Angela Duilio

The increasing onset of multidrug-resistant bacteria has propelled microbiology research towards antimicrobial peptides as new possible antibiotics from natural sources. Antimicrobial peptides are short peptides endowed with a broad range of activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and are less prone to trigger resistance. Besides their activity against planktonic bacteria, many antimicrobial peptides also show antibiofilm activity. Biofilms are ubiquitous in nature, having the ability to adhere to virtually any surface, either biotic or abiotic, including medical devices, causing chronic infections that are difficult to eradicate. The biofilm matrix protects bacteria from hostile environments, thus contributing to the bacterial resistance to antimicrobial agents. Biofilms are very difficult to treat, with options restricted to the use of large doses of antibiotics or the removal of the infected device. Antimicrobial peptides could represent good candidates to develop new antibiofilm drugs as they can act at different stages of biofilm formation, on disparate molecular targets and with various mechanisms of action. These include inhibition of biofilm formation and adhesion, downregulation of quorum sensing factors, and disruption of the pre-formed biofilm. This review focuses on the proprieties of antimicrobial and antibiofilm peptides, with a particular emphasis on their mechanism of action, reporting several examples of peptides that over time have been shown to have activity against biofilm.



2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Edward Ntim Gasu ◽  
Hubert Senanu Ahor ◽  
Lawrence Sheringham Borquaye

Bacteria in biofilms are encased in an extracellular polymeric matrix that limits exposure of microbial cells to lethal doses of antimicrobial agents, leading to resistance. In Pseudomonas aeruginosa, biofilm formation is regulated by cell-to-cell communication, called quorum sensing. Quorum sensing facilitates a variety of bacterial physiological functions such as swarming motility and protease, pyoverdine, and pyocyanin productions. Peptide mix from the marine mollusc, Olivancillaria hiatula, has been studied for its antibiofilm activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Microscopy and microtiter plate-based assays were used to evaluate biofilm inhibitory activities. Effect of the peptide mix on quorum sensing-mediated processes was also evaluated. Peptide mix proved to be a good antibiofilm agent, requiring less than 39 μg/mL to inhibit 50% biofilm formation. Micrographs obtained confirmed biofilm inhibition at 1/2 MIC whereas 2.5 mg/mL was required to degrade preformed biofilm. There was a marked attenuation in quorum sensing-mediated phenotypes as well. At 1/2 MIC of peptide, the expression of pyocyanin, pyoverdine, and protease was inhibited by 60%, 72%, and 54%, respectively. Additionally, swarming motility was repressed by peptide in a dose-dependent manner. These results suggest that the peptide mix from Olivancillaria hiatula probably inhibits biofilm formation by interfering with cell-to-cell communication in Pseudomonas aeruginosa.



2020 ◽  
Vol 18 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sepideh Hassanzadeh ◽  
Sudabeh Ebrahimi ◽  
Sara Ganjloo ◽  
Saeid Amel Jamehdar ◽  
Samaneh Dolatabadi

Introduction: The biofilm formation by Pseudomonas aeruginosa seems to protect the bacteria from antibiotics since these entities are highly resistant to such antimicrobial agents. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of Lactobacillus salivarus, Lactobacillus plantarum supernatants and CuII Schiff base complex in eliminating planktonic cells and biofilm of P. aeruginosa. Methods: : One hundred specimens of blood, urine, cerebrospinal fluid, respiratory samples, and wound swabs were collected from patients attending three hospitals in Mashhad. All specimens were identified by biochemical tests. The susceptibility of the isolates to the conventional antibiotics were assessed using disk diffusion method. The biofilm formation ability of P. aeruginosa isolates was evaluated by crystal violet assay and confirmed using PCR. The anti-planktonic and anti-biofilm ability of L. salivarus, L. plantarum supernatants and CuII Schiff base complex was evaluated separately in P. aeruginosa isolates. Results and Conclusion: The highest and lowest resistance rates was detected in Cefazoline (95%) and cefepime (23%), respectively. The thickest biofilm was produced by 8% of P. aeruginosa isolates, 9% and 83% of the isolates were considered as moderate and weak biofilm producers, respectively. The rhlR and lasR genes was reported in 100% of the isolates, but algD gene was existence in 92% of them. Particularly, the CuII Schiff base complex could affect both planktonic and biofilm cells by the lowest concentration in comparison of probiotic supernatants. L. plantarum supernatant inhibited planktonic cells at a lower concentration than L. salivarius. Also, L. salivarius showed better antibiofilm activity than another probiotic in lower doses of supernatant. Unlike that these compounds have not completely eliminated biofilm cells, but only reduced the biofilm formation.Metal Schiff base complex and Lactobacillus supernatants is a potent antimicrobial agent against Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm cells.



Antibiotics ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 279 ◽  
Author(s):  
Virginie Lemoine ◽  
Clément Bernard ◽  
Charlotte Leman-Loubière ◽  
Barbara Clément-Larosière ◽  
Marion Girardot ◽  
...  

Biofilm-related infections are a matter of concern especially because of the poor susceptibility of microorganisms to conventional antimicrobial agents. Innovative approaches are needed. The antibiofilm activity of extracts of cyanobacteria Arthrospira platensis, rich in free fatty acids, as well as of extract-loaded copper alginate-based nanocarriers, were studied on single- and dual-species biofilms of Candida albicans and Cutibacterium acnes. Their ability to inhibit the biofilm formation and to eradicate 24 h old biofilms was investigated. Concentrations of each species were evaluated using flow cytometry. Extracts prevented the growth of C. acnes single-species biofilms (inhibition > 75% at 0.2 mg/mL) but failed to inhibit preformed biofilms. Nanovectorised extracts reduced the growth of single-species C. albicans biofilms (inhibition > 43% at 0.2 mg/mL) while free extracts were weakly or not active. Nanovectorised extracts also inhibited preformed C. albicans biofilms by 55% to 77%, whereas the corresponding free extracts were not active. In conclusion, even if the studied nanocarrier systems displayed promising activity, especially against C. albicans, their efficacy against dual-species biofilms was limited. This study highlighted that working in such polymicrobial conditions can give a more objective view of the relevance of antibiofilm strategies by taking into account interspecies interactions that can offer additional protection to microbes.



2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 186 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raffaella Campana ◽  
Alessio Merli ◽  
Michele Verboni ◽  
Francesca Biondo ◽  
Gianfranco Favi ◽  
...  

A small library of sugar-based (i.e., glucose, mannose and lactose) monoesters containing hydrophobic aliphatic or aromatic tails were synthesized and tested. The antimicrobial activity of the compounds against a target panel of Gram-positive, Gram-negative and fungi was assessed. Based on this preliminary screening, the antibiofilm activity of the most promising molecules was evaluated at different development times of selected food-borne pathogens (E. coli, L. monocytogenes, S. aureus, S. enteritidis). The antibiofilm activity during biofilm formation resulted in the following: mannose C10 > lactose biphenylacetate > glucose C10 > lactose C10. Among them, mannose C10 and lactose biphenylacetate showed an inhibition for E. coli 97% and 92%, respectively. At MICs values, no toxicity was observed on Caco-2 cell line for all the examined compounds. Overall, based on these results, all the sugar-based monoesters showed an interesting profile as safe antimicrobial agents. In particular, mannose C10 and lactose biphenylacetate are the most promising as possible biocompatible and safe preservatives for pharmaceutical and food applications.



2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Masaaki Minami ◽  
Toru Konishi ◽  
Hiroshi Takase ◽  
Toshiaki Makino

Streptococcus pneumoniae (S. pneumoniae) is the important pathogen that causes otolaryngeal diseases such as sinusitis. S. pneumoniae frequently forms the biofilm to prevent severe circumstances such as antimicrobial agents. Shin’iseihaito (xinyiqingfeitang) is a formula of Japanese traditional Kampo medicine that has 9 crude drugs and provides the medicinal usage for sinusitis. The objective of the present study is to reveal the mechanism of antibiofilm activity by Shin’iseihaito extract (SSHT). SSHT significantly inhibited the formation of biofilm from S. pneumoniae ATCC 49619 in dose- and time-dependent manners. SSHT also significantly suppressed the biofilm formation by other five different cps types of S. pneumoniae clinical isolates. We found that the extracts of 8 out of 9 components in Shin’iseihaito had the inhibitory effects of biofilm formation, and the extract of the root of Scutellaria baicalensis had the strongest effect among the ingredients of Shin’iseihaito. We found that the capsule of SSHT-treated S. pneumoniae was significantly thinner than that of the untreated group and that SSHT reduced the hydrophobicity of bacterial cell surface. Our results suggest that Shin’iseihaito may be a useful agent for the treatment of S. pneumoniae-induced sinusitis because of the inhibition of biofilm formation of S. pneumoniae.



AMB Express ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Domenico Schillaci ◽  
Maria Grazia Cusimano ◽  
Angelo Spinello ◽  
Giampaolo Barone ◽  
Debora Russo ◽  
...  


2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Christian Ramsès Tokam Kuaté ◽  
Borel Bisso Ndezo ◽  
Jean Paul Dzoyem

Biofilms related to human infection have high levels of pathogenicity due to their resistance to antimicrobial agents. The discovery of antibiofilm agents is necessary. One approach to overcome this problem is the use of antibiotics agents’ combination. This study aimed to determine the efficacy of the combination of natural products thymol and piperine with three aminoglycosides antibiotics, amikacin, kanamycin, and streptomycin against biofilm-forming Salmonella enterica. The microtiter plate assay method was used to evaluate the biofilm-producing capacity of the isolates. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration were determined by the broth microdilution method. The inhibition of biofilm formation and biofilm eradication was determined using the microtiter broth method. The checkerboard method was used to determine the combined effects of natural products with aminoglycosides antibiotics. All the tested isolates showed various levels of biofilm formation. Overall, combinations provided 43.3% of synergy in preventing the biofilm formation and 40% of synergy in eradicating preformed biofilms, and in both cases, no antagonism was observed. The combination of thymol with kanamycin showed a synergistic effect with 16- to 32-fold decrease of the minimum biofilm eradication concentration (MBEC) of kanamycin. The interaction of piperine with amikacin and streptomycin also revealed a synergistic effect with 16-fold reduction of the minimum biofilm inhibitory concentration (MBIC). The combination of thymol with the three antibiotics showed a strong synergistic effect in both inhibiting the biofilm formation and eradicating the preformed biofilm. This study demonstrates that thymol and piperine potentiate the antibiofilm activity of amikacin, kanamycin, and streptomycin. These combinations are a promising approach therapeutic to overcome the problem of Salmonella enterica biofilm-associated infections. In addition, these combinations could help reduce the concentration of individual components, thereby minimizing the nephrotoxicity of aminoglycosides antibiotics.



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