Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 24, 2025
A Platform of Anti-biofilm Assays Suited to the Exploration of Natural Compound Libraries
Published on: December 27, 2016
Reduction of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus biofilm growth and development using arctic berry extracts
John Jairo Aguilera-Correa1,2, Liisa Nohynek3, Hanna-Leena Alakomi3
1Department of Clinical Microbiology, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria (IIS)-Fundación Jiménez Díaz, Madrid, Spain.
Introduction:
Surgical site infection remains a devastating and feared complication of surgery caused mainly by Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). More specifically, methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) infection poses a serious threat to global health. Therefore, developing new antibacterial agents to address drug resistance are urgently needed. Compounds derived from natural berries have shown a strong antimicrobial potential.
Methods:
This study aimed to evaluate the effect of various extracts from two arctic berries, cloudberry (Rubus chamaemorus) and raspberry (Rubus idaeus), on the development of an MRSA biofilm and as treatment on a mature MRSA biofilm. Furthermore, we evaluated the ability of two cloudberry seed-coat fractions, hydrothermal extract and ethanol extract, and the wet-milled hydrothermal extract of a raspberry press cake to inhibit and treat biofilm development in a wound-like medium. To do so, we used a model strain and two clinical strains isolated from infected patients.
Results:
All berry extracts prevented biofilm development of the three MRSA strains, except the raspberry press cake hydrothermal extract, which produced a diminished anti-staphylococcal effect.
Discussion:
The studied arctic berry extracts can be used as a treatment for a mature MRSA biofilm, however some limitations in their use exist.
Insights
Arctic berry extracts show promise in preventing and treating methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) biofilms. These natural compounds offer potential new strategies against dangerous MRSA infections, though some limitations exist.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Natural Product Chemistry
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Surgical site infections (SSIs) are a significant surgical complication, often caused by Staphylococcus aureus.
- Methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) presents a global health challenge due to antimicrobial resistance.
- Natural compounds from berries possess demonstrated antimicrobial properties.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the efficacy of cloudberry and raspberry extracts against MRSA biofilms.
- To evaluate the potential of specific berry fractions in inhibiting and treating MRSA biofilm formation.
- To assess these extracts using both model and clinical MRSA strains.
Main Methods:
- Extraction and fractionation of cloudberry (Rubus chamaemorus) and raspberry (Rubus idaeus) components.
- Testing of berry extracts and fractions against MRSA biofilm development and mature biofilms.
- Utilizing a wound-like medium and clinical MRSA isolates for relevant testing.
Main Results:
- All tested arctic berry extracts effectively inhibited MRSA biofilm development.
- Raspberry press cake hydrothermal extract showed a reduced anti-staphylococcal effect.
- Berry extracts demonstrated potential in treating mature MRSA biofilms.
Conclusions:
- Arctic berry extracts show potential as therapeutic agents against MRSA biofilms.
- Further research is warranted to overcome limitations and optimize the use of these natural compounds.
- These findings contribute to the development of novel strategies against antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
More Related Videos
10:00Targeting Biofilm Associated Staphylococcus aureus Using Resazurin Based Drug-susceptibility Assay
Published on: May 5, 2016
08:20Systematic Approach to Identify Novel Antimicrobial and Antibiofilm Molecules from Plants' Extracts and Fractions to Prevent Dental Caries
Published on: March 31, 2021
