ORCID
0000-0002-5812-9013
Department
Biological Sciences
Year of Study
4
Full-time or Part-time Study
Full-time
Level
Postgraduate
Presentation Type
Oral Presentation
Supervisor
Dr Craig Murphy
Supervisor
Dr Eamonn Culligan
Abstract
Background
Nosocomial pathogens are responsible for chronic and persistent infections partly due to their ability to form protective biofilms which enhance their antibiotic tolerance. Biofilm disruption combats antimicrobial resistance as dispersed cells regain antibiotic susceptibility. The goal of this study was to evaluate the antibiofilm potential of isolates from marine environments against a pathogen panel consisting of MRSA and clinical Staphylococcus aureus strains, Acinetobacter baumannii and Escherichia coli pathogens.
Method
A large bank of saltwater bacterial isolates was cultured in glucose-supplemented trypticase soy broth (TSBg) and resulting colonies were screened against the pathogen panel. Isolates of interest were further examined for bactericidal and antibiofilm activity.
All bacterial strains and isolates were standardised using McFarland standards. The minimum biofilm inhibitory and eradication concentrations (MBIC and MBEC) were measured using a crystal violet (0.1%) staining assay. Bacterial viability within biofilm was determined as the reduction [%] in metabolic activity as determined by the 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) assay.
Results
Two saltwater isolates significantly reduced the ability of all the tested strains form biofilm. MBIC50 was achieved for S. aureus, A. baumannii and E. coli at an isolate concentration of 7.8x103, 1.2x104 and 6.25x103 CFU/mL, respectively. An increase in biofilm eradication and reduction in metabolic activity was observed solely against S. aureus and E. coli strains.
Conclusions
Selected saltwater isolates demonstrated inhibitory and disruptive potential against biofilm forming strains. However, further investigation is required to optimise their activity against mature biofilms.
Keywords:
biofilm, pathogens, microbiology
Start Date
2-11-2023 12:15 PM
End Date
2-11-2023 12:30 PM
Recommended Citation
Murphy, Monica, "Investigating the ability of saltwater isolates to inhibit biofilm formation by clinically significant pathogens" (2023). ORBioM (Open Research BioSciences Meeting). 1.
https://sword.cit.ie/orbiom/2023/oral2/1
Included in
Investigating the ability of saltwater isolates to inhibit biofilm formation by clinically significant pathogens
Background
Nosocomial pathogens are responsible for chronic and persistent infections partly due to their ability to form protective biofilms which enhance their antibiotic tolerance. Biofilm disruption combats antimicrobial resistance as dispersed cells regain antibiotic susceptibility. The goal of this study was to evaluate the antibiofilm potential of isolates from marine environments against a pathogen panel consisting of MRSA and clinical Staphylococcus aureus strains, Acinetobacter baumannii and Escherichia coli pathogens.
Method
A large bank of saltwater bacterial isolates was cultured in glucose-supplemented trypticase soy broth (TSBg) and resulting colonies were screened against the pathogen panel. Isolates of interest were further examined for bactericidal and antibiofilm activity.
All bacterial strains and isolates were standardised using McFarland standards. The minimum biofilm inhibitory and eradication concentrations (MBIC and MBEC) were measured using a crystal violet (0.1%) staining assay. Bacterial viability within biofilm was determined as the reduction [%] in metabolic activity as determined by the 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) assay.
Results
Two saltwater isolates significantly reduced the ability of all the tested strains form biofilm. MBIC50 was achieved for S. aureus, A. baumannii and E. coli at an isolate concentration of 7.8x103, 1.2x104 and 6.25x103 CFU/mL, respectively. An increase in biofilm eradication and reduction in metabolic activity was observed solely against S. aureus and E. coli strains.
Conclusions
Selected saltwater isolates demonstrated inhibitory and disruptive potential against biofilm forming strains. However, further investigation is required to optimise their activity against mature biofilms.