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Live/Dead Staining for Quantifying Viable but Not Culturable Cells in Manuka Honey-Treated Wound-Causing Bacteria
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Live/Dead Staining for Quantifying Viable but Not Culturable Cells in Manuka Honey-Treated Wound-Causing Bacteria

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Manuka honey inhibits the development of Streptococcus pyogenes biofilms and causes reduced expression of two

Sarah E Maddocks1, Marta Salinas Lopez1, Richard S Rowlands1

  • 1Cardiff Metropolitan University, Western Avenue, Cardiff CF5 2YB, UK.

Microbiology (Reading, England)
|February 2, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Manuka honey shows potential for treating wounds infected with Streptococcus pyogenes. It effectively kills bacteria in planktonic and biofilm cultures and prevents bacterial adherence to human tissues.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Wound Healing
  • Natural Products

Background:

  • Streptococcus pyogenes (group A Streptococcus; GAS) is a significant pathogen in wound infections, contributing to biofilm formation and resistance to conventional therapies.
  • The rise of antibiotic resistance necessitates the exploration of novel antimicrobial agents for clinical use.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the in vitro efficacy of Manuka honey against Streptococcus pyogenes (M28) in both planktonic and biofilm states.
  • To assess Manuka honey's impact on bacterial adherence, biofilm structure, and virulence factor gene expression.

Main Methods:

  • Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) assays.
  • Microscopy to visualize biofilm penetration and cell death.
  • Assessment of bacterial aggregation and fibronectin/fibrinogen binding.
  • Quantitative gene expression analysis for fibronectin-binding proteins (SfbI, Sof).

Main Results:

  • Manuka honey demonstrated bactericidal effects on both planktonic and biofilm cultures of S. pyogenes, with higher concentrations required for biofilms.
  • Significant abrogation of bacterial adherence and intercellular aggregation was observed.
  • Manuka honey effectively permeated established biofilms, causing cell death and dissociation.
  • Sublethal concentrations inhibited fibronectin binding by preventing the expression of Sof and SfbI genes.

Conclusions:

  • Manuka honey exhibits potent antimicrobial activity against S. pyogenes, including established biofilms.
  • It disrupts key bacterial adhesion mechanisms, specifically fibronectin binding, which is crucial for virulence.
  • These findings support the potential of Manuka honey as a topical therapeutic agent for S. pyogenes-infected wounds.

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