Karthik Sambanthamoorthy

Characterization of biofilm matrix, degradation by DNase treatment and evidence of capsule downregulation in Streptococcus pneumoniae clinical isolates

BackgroundStreptococcus pneumoniae is a common respiratory pathogen and a major causative agent of respiratory infections, including otitis media (OM). Pneumococcal biofilms have been demonstrated on biopsies of the middle ear mucosa in children receiving tympanostomy tubes, supporting the hypothesis that chronic OM may involve biofilm development by pathogenic bacteria as part of the infectious process. To better understand pneumococcal biofilm formation six low-passage encapsulated nasopharyngeal isolates of S. pneumoniae were assessed over a six-eight day period in vitro.ResultsMultiparametric analysis divided the strains into two groups. Those with a high biofilm forming index (BFI) were structurally complex, exhibited greater lectin colocalization and were more resistant to azithromycin. Those with a low BFI developed less extensive biofilms and were more susceptible to azithromycin. dsDNA was present in the S. pneumoniae biofilm matrix in all strains and treatment with DNase I significantly reduced biofilm biomass. Since capsule expression has been hypothesized to be associated with decreased biofilm development, we also examined expression of cpsA, the first gene in the pneumococcal capsule operon. Interestingly, cpsA was downregulated in biofilms in both high and low BFI strains.ConclusionAll pneumococcal strains developed biofilms that exhibited extracellular dsDNA in the biofilm matrix, however strains with a high BFI correlated with greater carbohydrate-associated structural complexity and antibiotic resistance. Furthermore, all strains of S. pneumoniae showed downregulation of the cpsA gene during biofilm growth compared to planktonic culture, regardless of BFI ranking, suggesting downregulation of capsule expression occurs generally during adherent growth.

Identification of Small Molecules that Antagonize Diguanylate Cyclase Enzymes to Inhibit Biofilm Formation

ABSTRACT Bacterial biofilm formation is responsible for numerous chronic infections, causing a severe health burden. Many of these infections cannot be resolved, as bacteria in biofilms are resistant to the hosts immune defenses and antibiotic therapy. New strategies to treat biofilm-based infections are critically needed. Cyclic di-GMP (c-di-GMP) is a widely conserved second-messenger signal essential for biofilm formation. As this signaling system is found only in bacteria, it is an attractive target for the development of new antibiofilm interventions. Here, we describe the results of a high-throughput screen to identify small-molecule inhibitors of diguanylate cyclase (DGC) enzymes that synthesize c-di-GMP. We report seven small molecules that antagonize these enzymes and inhibit biofilm formation by Vibrio cholerae. Moreover, two of these compounds significantly reduce the total concentration of c-di-GMP in V. cholerae, one of which also inhibits biofilm formation by Pseudomonas aeruginosa in a continuous-flow system. These molecules represent the first compounds described that are able to inhibit DGC activity to prevent biofilm formation.

Identification of a Novel Benzimidazole That Inhibits Bacterial Biofilm Formation in a Broad-Spectrum Manner

ABSTRACT Bacterial biofilm formation causes significant industrial economic loss and high morbidity and mortality in medical settings. Biofilms are defined as multicellular communities of bacteria encased in a matrix of protective extracellular polymers. Because biofilms have a high tolerance for treatment with antimicrobials, protect bacteria from immune defense, and resist clearance with standard sanitation protocols, it is critical to develop new approaches to prevent biofilm formation. Here, a novel benzimidazole molecule, named antibiofilm compound 1 (ABC-1), identified in a small-molecule screen, was found to prevent bacterial biofilm formation in multiple Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacterial pathogens, including Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus, on a variety of different surface types. Importantly, ABC-1 itself does not inhibit the growth of bacteria, and it is effective at nanomolar concentrations. Also, coating a polystyrene surface with ABC-1 reduces biofilm formation. These data suggest ABC-1 is a new chemical scaffold for the development of antibiofilm compounds.

The human antimicrobial peptide LL-37 and its fragments possess both antimicrobial and antibiofilm activities against multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii

Acinetobacter baumannii infections are difficult to treat due to multidrug resistance. Biofilm formation by A. baumannii is an additional factor in its ability to resist antimicrobial therapy. The antibacterial and antibiofilm activities of the human antimicrobial peptide LL-37 and its fragments KS-30, KR-20 and KR-12 against clinical isolates of multidrug-resistant (MDR) A. baumannii were evaluated. The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of LL-37 against MDR A. baumannii isolates ranged from 16 to 32 μg/mL. The MIC of KS-30 fragment varied from 8.0 to 16 μg/mL and the KR-20 fragment MIC ranged from 16 to 64 μg/mL. LL-37 and KS-30 fragment exhibited 100% bactericidal activity against five A. baumannii strains, including four MDR clinical isolates, within 30 min at concentrations of 0.25-1 μg/mL. By 0.5h, the fragments KR-20 and KR-12 eliminated all tested strains at 8 and 64 μg/mL respectively. LL-37 and its fragments displayed anti-adherence activities between 32-128 μg/mL. A minimum biofilm eradication concentration (MBEC) biofilm assay demonstrated that LL-37 inhibited and dispersed A. baumannii biofilms at 32 μg/mL respectively. Truncated fragments of LL-37 inhibited biofilms at concentrations of 64-128 μg/mL. KS-30, the truncated variant of LL-37, effectively dispersed biofilms at 64 μg/mL. At 24h, no detectable toxicity was observed at the efficacious doses when cytotoxicity assays were performed. Thus, LL-37, KS-30 and KR-20 exhibit significant antimicrobial activity against MDR A. baumannii. The prevention of biofilm formation in vitro by LL-37, KS-30 and KR-20 adds significance to their efficacy. These peptides can be potential therapeutics against MDR A. baumannii infections.

Identification of small molecules inhibiting diguanylate cyclases to control bacterial biofilm development.

Biofilm formation by pathogenic bacteria is an important virulence factor in the development of numerous chronic infections, thereby causing a severe health burden. Many of these infections cannot be resolved, as bacteria in biofilms are resistant to the host’s immune defenses and antibiotic therapy. An urgent need for new strategies to treat biofilm-based infections is critically needed. Cyclic di-GMP (c-di-GMP) is a widely conserved second-messenger signal essential for biofilm formation. The absence of this signalling system in higher eukaryotes makes it an attractive target for the development of new anti-biofilm agents. In this study, the results of an in silico pharmacophore-based screen to identify small-molecule inhibitors of diguanylate cyclase (DGC) enzymes that synthesize c-di-GMP are described. Four small molecules, LP 3134, LP 3145, LP 4010 and LP 1062 that antagonize these enzymes and inhibit biofilm formation by Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannii in a continuous-flow system are reported. All four molecules dispersed P. aeruginosa biofilms and inhibited biofilm development on urinary catheters. One molecule dispersed A. baumannii biofilms. Two molecules displayed no toxic effects on eukaryotic cells. These molecules represent the first compounds identified from an in silico screen that are able to inhibit DGC activity to prevent biofilm formation.

The Role of msa in Staphylococcus aureus Biofilm Formation

BackgroundStaphylococcus aureus is an important pathogen that forms biofilms. The global regulator sarA is essential for biofilm formation. Since the modulator of sarA (msa) is required for full expression of sarA and regulates several virulence factors, we examined the capacity of the msa mutant to form biofilm.ResultsWe found that mutation of msa results in reduced expression of sarA in biofilm and that the msa mutant formed a weak and unstable biofilm. The msa mutant is able to adhere to surfaces and begins to form biofilm but fails to mature indicating that the defect of the msa mutant biofilm is in the accumulation stage but not in primary adhesion.ConclusionThe msa gene plays an important role in biofilm development which is likely due to its role in modulating the expression of sarA. This finding is significant because it identifies a new gene that plays a role in the development of biofilm.

Temporal expression of agrB, cidA, and alsS in the early development of Staphylococcus aureus UAMS-1 biofilm formation and the structural role of extracellular DNA and carbohydrates.

Extracellular DNA (eDNA) is an important component of the extracellular polymeric substance matrix and is important in the establishment and persistence of Staphylococcus aureus UAMS-1 biofilms. The aim of the study was to determine the temporal expression of genes involved in early biofilm formation and eDNA production. We used qPCR to investigate expression of agrB, which is associated with secreted virulence factors and biofilm dispersal, cidA, which is associated with biofilm adherence and genomic DNA release, and alsS, which is associated with cell lysis, eDNA release and acid tolerance. The contribution of eDNA to the stability of the biofilm matrix was assessed by digesting with DNase I (Pulmozyme) and quantifying structure by confocal microscopy and comstat image analysis. AgrB expression initially increased at 24 h but then dramatically decreased at 72 h in an inverse relationship to biomass, supporting its role in regulating biofilm dispersal. cidA and alsS expression steadily increased over 72 h, suggesting that eDNA was an important component of early biofilm development. DNase I had no effect on biomass, but did cause the biofilms to become more heterogeneous. Carbohydrates in the matrix appeared to play an important role in structural stability.

Modulating Acinetobacter baumannii biofilm development with molecules containing 3,4,5-trimethoxy-N,N′,N′-trimethylbenzohydrazide moiety

In recent years, Acinetobacter baumannii has emerged as a major cause of nosocomial infections, including infections of implanted medical devices. The treatment of infections caused by A. baumannii has been severely hampered due to their frequent resistance to currently available antibiotics, and most importantly the ability of A. baumannii to form biofilms, which plays a significant role in both persistence and antibiotic resistance. The inherent resistance of A. baumannii biofilms to host defenses and antimicrobial agents necessitates the search for novel approaches to deter biofilm formation. Here, we report our findings on nine compounds identified from structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies on an antibiofilm compound LP3134 that was reported earlier by Biofouling2014, 30, 17. Compounds were evaluated for antibiofilm and anti-adherence activities against A. baumannii. The ability of the compounds to prevent biofilm development on urinary catheters was studied. Growth curve experiments indicated that compounds did not affect the planktonic growth of A. baumannii. All compounds inhibited A. baumannii biofilm development as well as impacting early adhesion on abiotic surfaces. Seven compounds were able to deter biofilm development on silicone catheters. Due to the continued rise of emerging multidrug-resistant A. baumannii, results from this study provide foundation for further development of these molecules to treat A. baumannii infections in wounds and medical devices.