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A Platform of Anti-biofilm Assays Suited to the Exploration of Natural Compound Libraries
Published on: December 27, 2016
Antibiofilm effects of punicalagin against Staphylococcus aureus in vitro
Yunfeng Xu1, Weiping Guo1, Denglin Luo1
1College of Food and Bioengineering, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, Henan, China.
Abstract:
Staphylococcus aureus is a common foodborne pathogen which can form biofilms to help them resist to antimicrobials. It brings great harm to human health. Punicalagin has good antimicrobial activities against S. aureus, but its effect on biofilm formation has not been clearly illustrated. The aim of this study was to explore the antibiofilm effects of punicalagin against S. aureus. Results showed that punicalagin did not significantly interfere with the growth of S. aureus at the concentrations of 1/64 MIC to 1/16 MIC. The biomass and metabolic activity of biofilms were significantly reduced when exposed to sub-inhibitory concentrations of punicalagin. The number of viable cells in the biofilms was also decreased after punicalagin treatment. Scanning electron microscopy and confocal laser scanning microscopy images confirmed that punicalagin damaged the structure of biofilms. The antibiofilm mechanism was partly due to the modification of the cell surface which led to the reduction of cell surface hydrophobicity. These findings suggest that punicalagin has the potential to be developed as an alternative to control S. aureus biofilms.
Insights
Punicalagin effectively inhibits Staphylococcus aureus biofilm formation and reduces viable cells without significantly impacting bacterial growth. This natural compound shows promise for controlling S. aureus biofilms.
Area of Science:
- Food microbiology
- Antimicrobial research
- Biofilm science
Background:
- Staphylococcus aureus is a significant foodborne pathogen.
- S. aureus forms biofilms, conferring antimicrobial resistance.
- Punicalagin exhibits antimicrobial properties, but its antibiofilm effects are unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the antibiofilm effects of punicalagin against S. aureus.
- To determine if punicalagin affects S. aureus growth and biofilm formation.
Main Methods:
- Assessing punicalagin's effect on S. aureus growth.
- Evaluating biofilm biomass and metabolic activity.
- Microscopic analysis (SEM, CLSM) of biofilm structure.
- Investigating changes in cell surface hydrophobicity.
Main Results:
- Punicalagin did not inhibit S. aureus growth at sub-inhibitory concentrations (1/64 to 1/16 MIC).
- Sub-inhibitory concentrations of punicalagin significantly reduced biofilm biomass and metabolic activity.
- Punicalagin treatment decreased viable cell counts within biofilms.
- Microscopy revealed structural damage to biofilms by punicalagin.
- Punicalagin reduced bacterial cell surface hydrophobicity, contributing to its antibiofilm mechanism.
Conclusions:
- Punicalagin demonstrates significant antibiofilm activity against S. aureus.
- It effectively reduces biofilm formation, biomass, and viability.
- Punicalagin's mechanism involves altering cell surface properties.
- It holds potential as a novel strategy to control S. aureus biofilms.
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