Exploring the Antibiofilm Potential of Naringin Against Enterobacter hormaechei: Experimental and Computational...

Biofilms pose a significant threat to public health due to their role in antibiotic-resistant infections, including urinary tract infections, cystic fibrosis, and infective endocarditis. Enterobacter hormaechei, a Gram-negative bacterium within the Enterobacter cloacae complex (ECC), is a known biofilm-former that contributes to infections in the urinary tract, soft tissues, and medical devices. This study investigates the antibiofilm activity of naringin (NA), a flavonoid derived from naringenin, against E. hormaechei using various assays. Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) assay revealed that NA inhibits planktonic bacterial growth, with an MIC value of 4.096 mg/mL. Crystal Violet (CV) assay revealed a significant reduction in biofilm formation at NA concentrations of 0.5 mg/mL, 1 mg/mL, and 1.5 mg/mL compared to controls. Fluorescence microscopy further confirmed a decrease in bacterial population and disruption of biofilm architecture following NA treatment. In silico analysis was conducted to investigate the potential molecular interactions of NA with the biofilm regulatory proteins MrkB and FimA. The results indicated that NA might effectively inhibit biofilm formation in E. hormaechei by targeting these two key proteins involved in pilus biogenesis and bacterial adherence. These findings suggest that NA could serve as a potential therapeutic agent against E. hormaechei-associated infections.