Document Detail


Inhibitory effects of D-amino acids on Staphylococcus aureus biofilm development.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  21856845     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
Biofilms are communities of cells held together by a self-produced extracellular matrix typically consisting of protein, exopolysaccharide, and often DNA. A natural signal for biofilm disassembly in Bacillus subtilis is certain D-amino acids, which are incorporated into the peptidoglycan and trigger the release of the protein component of the matrix. D-amino acids also prevent biofilm formation by the related Gram-positive bacterium Staphylococcus aureus. Here we employed fluorescence microscopy and confocal laser scanning microscopy to investigate how D-amino acids prevent biofilm formation by S. aureus. We report that biofilm formation takes place in two stages, initial attachment to surfaces, resulting in small foci, and the subsequent growth of the foci into large aggregates. D-amino acids did not prevent the initial surface attachment of cells but blocked the subsequent growth of the foci into larger assemblies of cells. Using protein- and polysaccharide-specific stains, we have shown that D-amino acids inhibited the accumulation of the protein component of the matrix but had little effect on exopolysaccharide production and localization within the biofilm. We conclude that D-amino acids act in an analogous manner to prevent biofilm development in B. subtilis and S. aureus. Finally, to investigate the potential utility of D-amino acids in preventing device-related infections, we have shown that surfaces impregnated with D-amino acids were effective in preventing biofilm growth.
Authors:
Allon I Hochbaum; Ilana Kolodkin-Gal; Lucy Foulston; Roberto Kolter; Joanna Aizenberg; Richard Losick
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't; Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.     Date:  2011-08-19
Journal Detail:
Title:  Journal of bacteriology     Volume:  193     ISSN:  1098-5530     ISO Abbreviation:  J. Bacteriol.     Publication Date:  2011 Oct 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2011-09-28     Completed Date:  2011-11-15     Revised Date:  2012-04-02    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  2985120R     Medline TA:  J Bacteriol     Country:  United States    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  5616-22     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138-1903, USA.
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Amino Acids / chemistry,  metabolism*
Bacterial Adhesion
Biofilms*
Down-Regulation*
Staphylococcus aureus / physiology*
Grant Support
ID/Acronym/Agency:
GM18546/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS; GM58213/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS
Chemical
Reg. No./Substance:
0/Amino Acids

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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