Changes in the composition and architecture of staphylococcal biofilm by nisin

• Published in: Brazilian journal of microbiology Vol. 50; no. 4; pp. 1083 - 1090
• Main Authors: Andre, Cleriane, de Jesus Pimentel-Filho, Natan, de Almeida Costa, Paulo Mafra, Vanetti, Maria Cristina Dantas
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cham Springer International Publishing 01.10.2019; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Anti-Bacterial Agents - pharmacology; Architecture; Biofilms; Biofilms - drug effects; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Composition; Environmental DNA; Extracellular matrix; Extracellular Matrix - drug effects; Extracellular Matrix - metabolism; Food contamination; Food Microbiology; Food Microbiology - Research Paper; Laser microscopy; Life Sciences; Medical Microbiology; Microbial Ecology; Microbial Genetics and Genomics; Microbiology; Microscopy, Confocal; Mycology; Nisin; Nisin - pharmacology; Polysaccharides; Saccharides; Spectrophotometry; Staphylococcus aureus - cytology; Staphylococcus aureus - drug effects; Staphylococcus aureus - genetics; Staphylococcus aureus - physiology; Staphylococcus epidermidis - cytology; Staphylococcus epidermidis - drug effects; Staphylococcus epidermidis - genetics; Staphylococcus epidermidis - physiology; Nisin subinhibitory concentrations; Biofilm composition; Bacteriocin; Staphylococcus aureus
• ISSN: 1517-8382; 1678-4405
• DOI: 10.1007/s42770-019-00135-w

Bacterial biofilms are involved in various medical infections and food contamination episodes and, for this reason, it is of great importance to developing new strategies of its prevention and control. The subinhibitory concentration of nisin was determined, and its effect against Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis biofilms was evaluated. Results obtained by confocal laser microscopy demonstrated morphological changes in the architecture of the structure of biofilms. The main components (polysaccharides, proteins, and extracellular DNA (eDNA)) of the biofilm matrix were determined by spectrophotometry and showed that the formation of staphylococcal biofilms in the presence of nisin results in a less dense matrix structure with modification in its constituents. These results contribute to increase the knowledge of the composition and architecture of the extracellular matrix of biofilms of S. aureus , as well as evidence that the investigation of alternative products to assist in the control and combat of biofilms is a promising strategy.