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Updated: Jul 2, 2026

Targeting Biofilm Associated Staphylococcus aureus Using Resazurin Based Drug-susceptibility Assay
10:00

Targeting Biofilm Associated Staphylococcus aureus Using Resazurin Based Drug-susceptibility Assay

Published on: May 5, 2016

Palladium(II) complexes suppress biofilm formation and virulence in multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

Rajaramon Shobana1, Selvam Sivaprakash2, Arlin Jose Amali2

  • 1Quorum Sensing LaboratoryCentre for Research in Infectious Diseases (CRID)School of Chemical and Biotechnology, SASTRA Deemed to be University, Thanjavur, 613401, India.

Scientific Reports
|June 30, 2026
PubMed

Insights

New palladium(II) complexes show promise against multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MDRSA). The compound QSL_Pd4A effectively inhibits biofilm formation and virulence, offering a potential alternative to traditional antibiotics.

Area of Science:

  • Medicinal Chemistry
  • Microbiology
  • Materials Science

Background:

  • Rising prevalence of multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MDRSA) necessitates novel therapeutic strategies.
  • MDRSA's biofilm formation poses challenges for conventional bactericidal treatments.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To synthesize and evaluate palladium(II) metal complexes for activity against MDRSA.
  • To elucidate the mechanism of action of promising compounds, focusing on biofilm inhibition and virulence attenuation.

Main Methods:

  • Synthesis of two series of palladium(II) complexes (QSL_Pd1A-6A and QSL_Pd1B-6B).
  • Testing efficacy against MDR clinical isolates of S. aureus (SA P1966 and SA 2040).
  • Assessing biofilm formation, extracellular polymeric substance production, cell surface hydrophobicity, and gene expression (sarA, icaA, agr).

Main Results:

  • QSL_Pd4A demonstrated potent antibiofilm activity (MBIC50: 6.26-0.74 µg/mL) against both isolates.
  • QSL_Pd4A reduced biofilm formation by decreasing extracellular polymeric substance and cell surface hydrophobicity, without inducing reactive oxygen species.
  • Gene expression analysis showed downregulation of sarA and icaA, while the agr system was unaffected.
  • Combinatorial therapy with QSL_Pd4A and existing antibiotics showed synergistic effects, resensitizing MDRSA strains.

Conclusions:

  • QSL_Pd4A is a promising antivirulence and antibiofilm agent against MDRSA.
  • This compound offers a viable strategy to combat MDRSA by attenuating virulence factors.
  • The palladium(II) complex shows potential for developing new therapies against resistant bacterial infections without cytotoxicity.
Keywords:
Staphylococcus aureusBiofilmExtracellular polymeric substancePalladium complex

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