How Do Phages Disrupt the Structure of Enterococcus faecalis Biofilm?

Biofilms are composed of multicellular communities of microbial cells and their self-secreted extracellular polymeric substances (EPS). The viruses named bacteriophages can infect and lyze bacterial cells, leading to efficient biofilm eradication. The aim of this study was to analyze how bacteriophages disrupt the biofilm structure by killing bacterial cells and/or by damaging extracellular polysaccharides, proteins, and DNA. The use of colorimetric and spectrofluorimetric methods and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) enabled a comprehensive assessment of phage activity against E. faecalis biofilms. The impact of the phages vB_Efa29212_2e and vB_Efa29212_3e was investigated. They were applied separately or in combination on 1-day and 7-day-old biofilms. Phages 2e effectively inhibited the growth of planktonic cells with a limited effect on the biofilm. They did not notably affect extracellular polysaccharides and proteins; however, they increased DNA levels. Phages 3e demonstrated a potent and dispersing impact on E. faecalis biofilms, despite being slightly less effective than bacteriophages 2e against planktonic cells. Phages 3e reduced the amount of extracellular polysaccharides and increased eDNA levels in both 1-day-old and 7-day-old biofilm cultures. Phage cocktails had a strong antimicrobial effect on both planktonic and biofilm-associated bacteria. A significant reduction in the levels of polysaccharides, proteins, and eDNA in 1-day-old biofilm samples was noted, which confirms that phages interfere with the structure of E. faecalis biofilm by killing bacterial cells and affecting extracellular polymer levels.

Benefits and Challenges of the Use of Two Novel vB_Efa29212_2e and vB_Efa29212_3e Bacteriophages in Biocontrol of the Root Canal Enterococcus faecalis Infections.

Bacteriophage therapy has emerged as a strategy supplementing traditional disinfection protocols to fight biofilms. The aim of the study was to isolate the phages against E. faecalis and to characterize its biological features, morphology, and lytic activity in a formed biofilm model. METHODS: E. faecalis ATCC 29212 strain was used for the trial. Two novel vB_Efa29212_2e and vB_Efa29212_3e virulent phages were isolated from urban wastewater and characterized. The E. faecalis biofilm was established in 15 bovine teeth for 21 days. Transmission (TEM) and scanning electron (SEM) microscopes with the colony-forming unit (CFU) counting were used for assessment. RESULTS: Isolated phages differed in morphology. Taxonomy for vB_Efa29212_2e (Siphoviridae, Efquatovirus) and for vB_Efa29212_3e (Herelleviridae, Kochikohdavirus) was confirmed. Both phages were stable at a temperature range of 4-50 °C and showed a different tolerance to chemicals: 15% EDTA, 1-3% sodium hypochlorite, and chlorhexidine. SEM analysis showed distortion of bacteria cells after phage inoculation, which proved the lytic activity against E. faecalis. A 54.6% reduction in the E. faecalis biofilm confirmed bacteriophage efficacy against isolates in the ex vivo model. CONCLUSIONS: Results strongly support the concept that phage therapy has a real therapeutic potential for the prevention and treatment of E. faecalis-associated infections.

Amikacin and bacteriophage treatment modulates outer membrane proteins composition in Proteus mirabilis biofilm.

Modification of outer membrane proteins (OMPs) is the first line of Gram-negative bacteria defence against antimicrobials. Here we point to Proteus mirabilis OMPs and their role in antibiotic and phage resistance. Protein profiles of amikacin (AMKrsv), phage (Brsv) and amikacin/phage (AMK/Brsv) resistant variants of P. mirabilis were compared to that obtained for a wild strain. In resistant variants there were identified 14, 1, 5 overexpressed and 13, 5, 1 downregulated proteins for AMKrsv, Brsv and AMK/Brsv, respectively. Application of phages with amikacin led to reducing the number of up- and downregulated proteins compared to single antibiotic treatment. Proteins isolated in AMKrsv are involved in protein biosynthesis, transcription and signal transduction, which correspond to well-known mechanisms of bacteria resistance to aminoglycosides. In isolated OMPs several cytoplasmic proteins, important in antibiotic resistance, were identified, probably as a result of environmental stress, e.g. elongation factor Tu, asparaginyl-tRNA and aspartyl-tRNA synthetases. In Brsv there were identified: NusA and dynamin superfamily protein which could play a role in bacteriophage resistance. In the resistant variants proteins associated with resistance mechanisms occurring in biofilm, e.g. polyphosphate kinase, flagella basal body rod protein were detected. These results indicate proteins important in the development of P. mirabilis antibiofilm therapies.

Surfactants of microbial origin as antibiofilm agents.

The microbial world provides new energy sources and many various 'green' chemicals. One type of chemicals produced by microorganisms is the biosurfactant group. Biosurfactants are universal molecules, exhibiting surface properties often accompanied by desired biological activity. Biosurfactants are considered to be environmentally 'friendly' due to their low toxicity and biodegradable nature. These compounds have unique features and therefore they can find potential applications in many different industries, ranging from biotechnology to environmental remediation technologies. Antibacterial and antifungal activities make them relevant for applications as inhibitory agents against microbial biofilm. This review covers the current knowledge and the recent advances in the field of biosurfactants as antibiofilm agents.

Changes in the lipopolysaccharide of Proteus mirabilis 9B-m (O11a) clinical strain in response to planktonic or biofilm type of growth.

The impact of planktonic and biofilm lifestyles of the clinical isolate Proteus mirabilis 9B-m on its lipopolysaccharide (O-polysaccharide, core region, and lipid A) was evaluated. Proteus mirabilis bacteria are able to form biofilm and lipopolysaccharide is one of the factors involved in the biofilm formation. Lipopolysaccharide was isolated from planktonic and biofilm cells of the investigated strain and analyzed by SDS-PAGE with silver staining, Western blotting and ELISA, as well as NMR and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry techniques. Chemical and NMR spectroscopic analyses revealed that the structure of the O-polysaccharide of P. mirabilis 9B-m strain did not depend on the form of cell growth, but the full-length chains of the O-antigen were reduced when bacteria grew in biofilm. The study also revealed structural modifications of the core region in the lipopolysaccharide of biofilm-associated cells-peaks assigned to compounds absent in cells from the planktonic culture and not previously detected in any of the known Proteus core oligosaccharides. No differences in the lipid A structure were observed. In summary, our study demonstrated for the first time that changes in the lifestyle of P. mirabilis bacteria leads to the modifications of their important virulence factor-lipopolysaccharide.

Lipid composition in a strain of Bacillus subtilis, a producer of iturin A lipopeptides that are active against uropathogenic bacteria.

Urinary tract infections are a common disease in humans. Therefore, new methods are needed to destroy biofilms that are formed by uropathogens. Iturin A lipopeptides (LPs) C14 and C15 are potent biosurfactants synthetized by the Bacillus subtilis I'1a strain. The biological activity of extracted LPs was confirmed by examining extracts from I'1a cultures against uropathogenic bacteria that had been isolated from biofilms on urinary catheters. Compared with cultures of DSM 3257, which produce surfactin at a relatively low level, the extract obtained from strain I'1a exhibited a greater inhibitory effect against both planktonic and sessile forms of Escherichia coli, Serratia marcescens, Enterobacter cloacae, Proteus mirabilis, Citrobacter freundii and Enterococcus faecalis. Moreover, cyclic LP biosurfactants may disturb the integrity of cytoplasmic membranes; therefore, we investigated the effects of synthetized LPs on fatty acids and phospholipids of B. subtilis. LPs and lipids were analyzed using GC-MS, LC-MS/MS and MALDI-TOF/TOF techniques. Compared with B. subtilis DSM 3257, membranes of the I'1a strain were characterized by an increased amount of anteiso fatty acids and a ten-fold higher ratio of phosphatidylglycerol (PG)-to-phosphatidylethanolamine (PE). Interestingly, in cultures of B. subtilis DSM 3257 supplemented with LP extracts of the I'1a strain, the PG-to-PE ratio was fourfold higher, and the amount of anteiso fatty acids was also increased.

Antimicrobial, antiadhesive and antibiofilm potential of lipopeptides synthesised by Bacillus subtilis, on uropathogenic bacteria.

The aim of this study was to investigate the antimicrobial effect of lipopeptide biosurfactants from surfactin, iturin and fengycin families, synthesised by the Bacillus subtilis I'1a strain, on uropathogenic bacteria, including the effects on planktonic growth, processes of biofilm formation and dislodging. Antimicrobial activity was tested against 32 uropathogenic strains belonging to 12 different species of Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. The sensitivity of 25 tested bacterial strains to the B. subtilis I'1a filtrate was confirmed by an agar diffusion assay. None of the strains seemed to be sensitive to pure surfactin at concentrations ranging from 0.1 mg × ml(-1) to 0.4 mg ml(-1). After the treatment of uropathogens with B. subtilis lipopeptides, the metabolic activity of planktonic cells was inhibited by 88.05±3.96% in the case of 21 studied uropathogens, the process of biofilm formation was reduced by 88.15±4.77% in the case of 24 uropathogens and mature biofilms of 18 strains were dislodged by about 81.20±4.72%. Ten strains of uropathogenic bacteria were selected to study the antimicrobial activity of surfactin (concentrations 0.1, 0.2 and 0.4 mg × ml(-1)). Surfactin had no influence on the metabolic activity of planktonic forms of uropathogens, however, biofilms of 5 tested strains were reduced by 64.77±9.05% in the presence of this biosurfactant at the concentration 0.1 mg × ml(-1). The negative effect of the compound on the biofilm formation process was observed at all concentrations used. The above-described results were fully confirmed by CLSM. It could suggest that synergistic application of biosurfactants could be efficient in uropathogen eradication.

[Extracellular matrix as a microbial virulence factor in the development of human diseases]. / Egzopolimery macierzy biofilmu jako czynniki wirulencji mikroorganizmów w rozwoju chorób czlowieka.

Extracellular polymers which build a biofilm matrix possess a complicated structure, where the polysaccharide fraction, composed of homo- or heteropolysaccharides, is the largest. Other important components are proteins, eDNA, glycoproteins and lipids. The matrix has a protective function against the surrounding environment, plays a role in biofilm formation and maturation processes, stabilizes the biofilm structure, and also is a source of nutrients and water for the cells. It is noteworthy that the biofilm matrix is a virulence factor and plays an important role in the pathogenesis of many human diseases. Pseudomonas aeruginosa growing in the lungs of patients with cystic fibrosis produces three major exopolysaccharides (Pel, Psl and alginate) and synthesizes numerous proteins such as lectins and enzymes, e.g. PasP, chitinase, aminopeptidase, and protease IV, which facilitate the tissue colonization. Extracellular polymers play a significant role in the course of caries, which is associated with the development of multi-species biofilm on the teeth surface. The structure of the matrix surrounding that biofilm is complicated--different for each patient. The components of the matrix are constantly changing depending on the environmental conditions, e.g. the presence of sucrose affects the synthesis of mutan and dextran. Infections associated with biofilm formation on implants pose significant medical and economic problems. The main components of the matrices are saccharides (e.g., PIA, EC-TA), as well as surface and extracellular proteins. Studies on the matrix structure and the factors regulating its synthesis are necessary to develop techniques for biofilm eradication and better control of biofilm-related infections.

Structure of the O-polysaccharide of Providencia alcalifaciens O2 containing ascarylose and N-(L-alanyl)-D-glucosamine.

The O-polysaccharide was obtained by degradation of the lipopolysaccharide of Providencia alcalifaciens O2 under mild acidic conditions followed by GPC. The polysaccharide was found to contain two unusual components: 3,6-dideoxy-L-arabino-hexose (ascarylose, Asc) and 2-(L-alanyl)amino-2-deoxy-D-glucose (GlcNAla). Ascarylose was partially split off during lipopolysaccharide degradation and could be eliminated completely by selective acid hydrolysis, which also partially cleaved the ß-GAlNAc-(1 → 6) linkage. The following structure of the branched pentasaccharide repeating unit was established by (1)H and (13)C NMR spectroscopy of the O-polysaccharide and O-deacetylated polysaccharide, as well as products of partial acid hydrolysis: α-Ascp-(1 → 4)-α-D-GlcpA-(1 → 4) → 6)-ß-D-GlcpNAla-(1 → 4)-ß-D-GlpA-(1 → 3)-ß-D-GalpNAc-(1 → ~60% OAc--3).

Structure and gene cluster organization of the O-antigen of Providencia alcalifaciens O45:H25.

O-Polysaccharide was obtained by mild acid degradation of the lipopolysaccharide of Providencia alcalifaciens O45:H25 and studied by sugar analysis, Smith degradation, and (1)H and (13)C NMR spectroscopy. The following structure of the pentasaccharide repeat of the O-polysaccharide was established: [structure: see text]. The O-antigen gene cluster of P. alcalifaciens O45 was sequenced and found to be in full agreement with the O-polysaccharide structure established.

Structure of the O-polysaccharide from the lipopolysaccharide of Providencia alcalifaciens O33.

Mild acid degradation of the lipopolysaccharide from Providencia alcalifaciens O33 resulted in an O-polysaccharide along with core and O-unit-bearing core oligosaccharides. Composition of the oligosaccharides was inferred by ESI mass spectrometry. Based on sugar and methylation analyses, Smith degradation and (1)H and (13)C NMR spectroscopy data, the following structure of the tetrasaccharide O-unit of the O-polysaccharide was established: Another O-polysaccharide structure has been reported earlier for Providencia stuartii О33 but later found to belong to a P. stuartii О52 strain.

Effect of nutrient and stress factors on polysaccharides synthesis in Proteus mirabilis biofilm.

The extracellular matrix in biofilm consists of water, proteins, polysaccharides, nucleic acids and phospholipids. Synthesis of these components is influenced by many factors, e.g. environment conditions or carbon source. The aim of the study was to analyse polysaccharides levels in Proteus mirabilis biofilms after exposure to stress and nutritional conditions. Biofilms of 22 P. mirabilis strains were cultivated for 24, 48, 72 hours, 1 and 2 weeks in tryptone soya broth or in modified media containing an additional amount of nutrients (glucose, albumin) or stress factors (cefotaxime, pH 4, nutrient depletion). Proteins and total polysaccharides levels were studied by Lowry and the phenol-sulphuric acid methods, respectively. Glycoproteins levels were calculated by ELLA with the use of selected lectins (WGA and HPA). For CLSM analysis dual fluorescent staining was applied with SYTO 13 and WGA-TRITC. In optimal conditions the levels of polysaccharides were from 0 to 442 µg/mg of protein and differed depending on the strains and cultivation time. The agents used in this study had a significant impact on the polysaccharides synthesis in the P. mirabilis biofilm. Among all studied components (depending on tested methods), glucose and cefotaxime stimulated the greatest production of polysaccharides by P. mirabilis strains (more than a twofold increase). For most tested strains the highest amounts of sugars were detected after one week of incubation. CLSM analysis confirmed the overproduction of N-acetyloglucosamine in biofilms after cultivation in nutrient and stress conditions, with the level 111-1134%, which varied depending on the P. mirabilis strain and the test factor.

Analysis of Proteus mirabilis distribution in multi-species biofilms on urinary catheters and determination of bacteria resistance to antimicrobial agents.

The objectives of the investigation presented in this paper were: to examine the frequency of P. mirabilis isolation from catheters and assess the complexity of multi-species biofilms which these bacteria form, as well as to determine the vulnerability of planktonic and sessile P. mirabilis populations to popular antibiotics and compare it to the susceptibility of other Gram-negative bacteria isolated as associated flora from multi-species biofilm. 88 urological catheters, collected from long-term catheterized patients were examined. Uropathogens were recovered from the catheter surface by sonication, and identified on standard diagnostic media. The broth-microdilution method and the MBEC High-throughput Screening assay were used to determine the bacterial resistance to antibiotics. 279 microorganisms were isolated from 88 urinary catheter biofilms. The Enterobacteriaceae family were the most frequently detected bacteria (53.2% of isolates), whereas Proteus spp. isolation accounted for 17.9%, which placed these bacilli on the third position in the Enterobacteraceae family. Among all the tested drugs, amikacin and cephalosporins (ceftriaxone, cefotaxime and cefaclor) exhibited the highest activity against P. mirabilis planktonic cells, 86% and 73% of strains were susceptible to these antibiotics, respectively. 100% of P. mirabilis sessile forms were resistant to cefepime, ciprofloxacin, gatifloxacin, and norfloxacin. Amikacin and ceftriaxone affected only 5% of sessile forms. The planktonic cells of the other studied uropathogens were mostly vulnerable to the all tested drugs (exception P. aeruginosa strains), the most effective of which occurred to be amikacin and cefepime. Obtained MBECs values were 2-512-fold higher than MICs assessed for planktonic forms.