Open AccessThiophenones inhibit S taphylococcus epidermidis biofilm formation at nontoxic concentrations
Author(s) -
LönnStensrud Jessica,
Naemi AliOddin,
Benneche Tore,
Petersen Fernanda Cristina,
Scheie Anne Aamdal
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
fems immunology & medical microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1574-695X
pISSN - 0928-8244
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-695x.2012.00964.x
Subject(s) - biofilm , staphylococcus epidermidis , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , virulence , antibiotics , bacteria , in vitro , quorum sensing , staphylococcus aureus , gene , biochemistry , genetics
Frequent use of medical implants has led S taphylococcus epidermidis to develop into an opportunistic pathogen. The virulence is mainly linked to biofilm formation. Infections associated with biofilms are difficult to treat owing to enhanced resistance to antibiotics. Therefore, new and alternative treatments are called for. Bacterial communication is one of the regulatory mechanisms suggested to be involved in coordinating biofilm formation. In this study, we compared three communication inhibitors for preventing in vitro biofilm formation: a synthetic furanone, and two synthetic thiophenones, which are sulphur analogues of furanones. Furanones naturally source from the red macro alga D elisea pulchra . We also investigated the effect of thiophenone on transcriptional levels of genes associated with biofilm formation. We found that thiophenones were more effective in inhibiting biofilm formation than furanone, also in presence of albumin. We furthermore found that the thiophenones inhibited biofilm formation and bacterial communication more than furanones, and were less cytotoxic. The expression of the icaC and the lrgB genes, which are associated with biofilm formation, were affected by the thiophenone.