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Zinc as an agent for the prevention of biofilm formation by pathogenic bacteria
Author(s) -
Wu C.,
Labrie J.,
Tremblay Y.D.N.,
Haine D.,
Mourez M.,
Jacques M.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
journal of applied microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.889
H-Index - 156
eISSN - 1365-2672
pISSN - 1364-5072
DOI - 10.1111/jam.12197
Subject(s) - biofilm , microbiology and biotechnology , bacteria , zinc , actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae , chemistry , staphylococcus aureus , biology , actinobacillus , serotype , organic chemistry , genetics
Aims Biofilm formation is important for the persistence of bacteria in hostile environments. Bacteria in a biofilm are usually more resistant to antibiotics and disinfectants than planktonic bacteria. Our laboratory previously reported that low concentrations of zinc inhibit biofilm formation of A ctinobacillus pleuropneumoniae . The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of zinc on growth and biofilm formation of other bacterial swine pathogens. Methods and Results To determine the effect of zinc on biofilm formation, biofilms were grown with or without zinc in 96‐well plates and stained with crystal violet. At micromolar concentrations (0–250 μ mol l −1 ), zinc weakly inhibited bacterial growth and it effectively blocked biofilm formation by A . pleuropneumoniae , S almonella Typhymurium and H aemophilus parasuis in a dose‐dependent manner. Additionally, biofilm formation of E scherichia coli, S taphylococcus aureus and S treptococcus suis was slightly inhibited by zinc. However, zinc did not disperse preformed biofilms. To determine whether zinc inhibits biofilm formation when poly‐N‐acetylglucosamine ( PGA ) is present, PGA was detected with the lectin wheat germ agglutinin. Only A . pleuropneumoniae and S taph. aureus biofilms were found to contain PGA . Conclusion Zinc used at nonbactericidal concentrations can inhibit biofilm formation by several Gram‐negative and Gram‐positive bacterial swine pathogens. Significance and Impact of Study The antibiofilm activity of zinc could provide a tool to fight biofilms, and the nonspecific inhibitory effect may well extend to other important human and animal bacterial pathogens.