纳米银水凝胶涂膜干预气管导管表面铜绿假单胞菌黏附及生物膜形成的实验研究

目的研究纳米银水凝胶涂膜对气管导管（endotracheal tube,ETT）表面铜绿假单胞菌粘附及细菌生物膜（biofilm,BF）形成的干预作用。方法实验共设6组,分别为空白对照组,涂纳米银3．5、7．0、10．5、14．0和17．5μg／cm^2组。参考Brown平板法,制备ETT、表面铜绿假单胞菌BF模型。通过超声振荡-平板菌落计数法检测体外培养6、12、18h时各组ETT表面BF中的活细菌粘附数量。借助激光共聚焦显微镜观察BF中的活死菌分布情况,并测量BF厚度。结果（1）与空白对照组相比,最小量涂膜组（3．5μg／cm^2）体外培养6h时,导管表面活细菌的粘附量显著减少（P〈0．05）,12h时差异无显著性（P〉0．05）;最大量涂膜组（17．5μg／cm^2）体外培养6h时,ETT表面几乎未见细菌粘附（P〈0．05）,18h时BF中的活菌数量及BF厚度均显著减少（P〈0．05）。（2）激光共聚焦显微镜观察可见,培养6h时,空白对照组ETT表面粘附的死活菌呈不规则散点样分布,未见明显的细菌菌落形成,而各实验组ETT表面仅有细菌零星分布,其数量少于空白组。18h时空白对照组表面可见大量活死菌堆积粘连,有小菌落形成并相互交通成地图状,可见典型BF结构,而此时最大量涂膜组（17．5μg／cm^2）表面仅见数量不等的菌落形成,菌落周围可见数量不等的细菌分布。结论纳米银水凝胶涂膜可有效减少ETT表面铜绿假单胞菌的粘附数量,延缓导管表面细菌BF形成,其作用强弱随培养时间及单位面积中的纳米银剂量的变化而变化。     

Effect of chlorhexidine and benzalkonium chloride on bacterial biofilm formation

AIM: To study the effect of antiseptics on bacterial biofilm formation. METHODS AND RESULTS: Biofilm formation and planktonic growth were tested in microtiter plates in the presence of antiseptics. For Escherichia coli G1473 in the presence of chlorhexidine or benzalkonium chloride, for Klebsiella pneumoniae CF504 in the presence of chlorhexidine and for Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 in the presence of benzalkonium chloride, biofilm development and planktonic growth were affected at the same concentrations of antiseptics. For PAO1 in the presence of chlorhexidine and CF504 in the presence of benzalkonium chloride, planktonic growth was significantly inhibited by a fourfold lower antiseptic concentration than biofilm development. For Staphylococcus epidermidis CIP53124 in the presence of antiseptics at the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC), a total inhibition of biofilm formation was observed. For Staph. epidermidis exposed to chlorhexidine at 1/2, 1/4 and 1/8 MIC, or to benzalkonium chloride at 1/8, 1/16 or 1/32 MIC, biofilm formation was increased from 11.4% to 22.5% without any significant effect onto planktonic growth. CONCLUSIONS: Chlorhexidine and benzalkonium chloride inhibited biofilm formation of different bacterial species but were able to induce biofilm development for the Staph. epidermidis CIP53124 strain at sub-MICs. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Sublethal exposure to cationic antiseptics may contribute to the persistence of staphylococci through biofilm induction.     

Effects of ginseng on Pseudomonas aeruginosa motility and biofilm formation

Biofilm-associated chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa lung infections in patients with cystic fibrosis are virtually impossible to eradicate with antibiotics because biofilm-growing bacteria are highly tolerant to antibiotics and host defense mechanisms. Previously, we found that ginseng treatments protected animal models from developing chronic lung infection by P. aeruginosa. In the present study, the effects of ginseng on the formation of P. aeruginosa biofilms were further investigated in vitro and in vivo. Ginseng aqueous extract at concentrations of 0.5-2.0% did not inhibit the growth of P. aeruginosa, but significantly prevented P. aeruginosa from forming biofilm. Exposure to 0.5% ginseng aqueous extract for 24 h destroyed most 7-day-old mature biofilms formed by both mucoid and nonmucoid P. aeruginosa strains. Ginseng treatment enhanced swimming and twitching motility, but reduced swarming of P. aeruginosa at concentrations as low as 0.25%. Oral administration of ginseng extracts in mice promoted phagocytosis of P. aeruginosa PAO1 by airway phagocytes, but did not affect phagocytosis of a PAO1-filM mutant. Our study suggests that ginseng treatment may help to eradicate the biofilm-associated chronic infections caused by P. aeruginosa.     

群体感应对铜绿假单胞菌生物被膜形成的调控

生物被膜是一种与浮游细胞相对应的生长方式,由细菌和自身分泌的包外基质组成。铜绿假单胞菌是研究这一生长方式的模式生物。在过去十年,对铜绿假单胞菌生物被膜的研究已取得显著进展。群体感应(QS)的细胞沟通机制在铜绿假单胞菌生物被膜形成中发挥着重要作用。介绍生物被膜的特点,并重点讨论了QS和生物被膜之间的关系。     

Effects of phenol and natural phenolic compounds on biofilm formation by Pseudomonas aeruginosa

A biofilm is formed as a result of adhesion of microorganisms to various surfaces with the production of extracellular polymers (polysaccharides and proteins). Biofilms cause serious problems in the chemical, medical and pharmaceutical industries. Recent findings indicate that some natural phenolic compounds found in plants have an anti-biofouling effect on biofilm formation by Gram-negative bacteria. The anti-biofouling activities of 14 selected phenol and natural phenolic compounds were tested against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, using a microtiter-plate. A modified microtiter-plate assay was used because it enabled indirect measurement of bacterial cells attached to the surface of the wells. This assay involved fixing the bacterial film with methanol, staining with crystal violet dye and then releasing the bound dye with 33% glacial acetic acid. The optical density (OD) of the solution was measured at 570 nm by using an automated ICN Flow Titertek Multiscan Plus reader. Phenol and natural phenolic compounds except ethyl linoleate and tocopherol showed a significant reduction in biofilm formation by P. aeruginosa.     

Effect of long-term starvation in salty microcosm on biofilm formation and motility in Pseudomonas aeruginosa

The development of antibiotic resistance in the opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a major cause of the pathogen’s morbidity and is strongly correlated with the biofilm formation. Motility and adherence capacity in long-term stressed cells have not been extensively analyzed even though P. aeruginosa considered a model organism for the study of biofilm formation. In this investigation, P. aeruginosa ATCC 27853 strain has been stored for 12 months in LB broth with 0.5 M NaCl. Several experiments demonstrated that the strain recovery from the salty microcosm had the ability to increase the biofilm formation and to reduce motility comparing with that of the original strain. To identify genes involved in the regulation of biofilm and/or in stress response by the recovered P. aeruginosa, differential display “DDRT-PCR” technique was used. The genes speD and ccoN2, coding, respectively, for an S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase and Cbb3-type cytochrome oxidase, were identified in recovered strain of P. aeruginosa ATCC 27853 as two differentially expressed gene fragments. A comparison of the biofilm produced by the wild-type strain PA14 and the transposon insertion mutant for speD gene suggested that spermidine has a potential role in the adaptive response in P. aeruginosa incubated in long-term stress conditions.     

Role of exopolysaccharides in Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm formation and architecture

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic human pathogen and has been established as a model organism to study bacterial biofilm formation. At least three exopolysaccharides (alginate, Psl, and Pel) contribute to the formation of biofilms in this organism. Here mutants deficient in the production of one or more of these polysaccharides were generated to investigate how these polymers interactively contribute to biofilm formation. Confocal laser scanning microscopy of biofilms formed in flow chambers showed that mutants deficient in alginate biosynthesis developed biofilms with a decreased proportion of viable cells than alginate-producing strains, indicating a role of alginate in viability of cells in biofilms. Alginate-deficient mutants showed enhanced extracellular DNA (eDNA)-containing surface structures impacting the biofilm architecture. PAO1 ΔpslA Δalg8 overproduced Pel, and eDNA showing meshwork-like structures presumably based on an interaction between both polymers were observed. The formation of characteristic mushroom-like structures required both Psl and alginate, whereas Pel appeared to play a role in biofilm cell density and/or the compactness of the biofilm. Mutants producing only alginate, i.e., mutants deficient in both Psl and Pel production, lost their ability to form biofilms. A lack of Psl enhanced the production of Pel, and the absence of Pel enhanced the production of alginate. The function of Psl in attachment was independent of alginate and Pel. A 30% decrease in Psl promoter activity in the alginate-overproducing MucA-negative mutant PDO300 suggested inverse regulation of both biosynthesis operons. Overall, this study demonstrated that the various exopolysaccharides and eDNA interactively contribute to the biofilm architecture of P. aeruginosa.     

Mechanism of resistance to benzalkonium chloride by Pseudomonas aeruginosa

The mechanisms of resistance of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to benzalkonium chloride (BC) were studied. The effluence of cell components was observed in susceptible P. aeruginosa by electron microscopy, but resistant P. aeruginosa seemed to be undamaged. No marked changes in cell surface potential between Escherichia coli NIHJC-2 and a spheroplast strain were found. The contents of phospholipids (PL) and fatty and neutral lipids (FNL) in the cell walls of resistant P. aeruginosa were higher than those in the cell walls of susceptible P. aeruginosa. The amounts of BC adsorbed to PL and FNL of cell walls of BC-resistant P. aeruginosa were lower than those for BC-susceptible P. aeruginosa. Fifteen species of cellular fatty acids were identified by capillary gas chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The ability of BC to permeate the cell wall was reduced because of the increase in cellular fatty acids. These results suggested that the resistance of P. aeruginosa to BC is mainly a result of increased in the contents of PL and FNL. In resistant P. aeruginosa, the decrease in the amount of BC adsorbed is likely to be the result of increases in the contents of PL and FNL.     

Inverse regulation of biofilm formation and swarming motility by Pseudomonas aeruginosa PA14

We previously reported that SadB, a protein of unknown function, is required for an early step in biofilm formation by the opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Here we report that a mutation in sadB also results in increased swarming compared to the wild-type strain. Our data are consistent with a model in which SadB inversely regulates biofilm formation and swarming motility via its ability both to modulate flagellar reversals in a viscosity-dependent fashion and to influence the production of the Pel exopolysaccharide. We also show that SadB is required to properly modulate flagellar reversal rates via chemotaxis cluster IV (CheIV cluster). Mutational analyses of two components of the CheIV cluster, the methyl-accepting chemotaxis protein PilJ and the PilJ demethylase ChpB, support a model wherein this chemotaxis cluster participates in the inverse regulation of biofilm formation and swarming motility. Epistasis analysis indicates that SadB functions upstream of the CheIV cluster. We propose that P. aeruginosa utilizes a SadB-dependent, chemotaxis-like regulatory pathway to inversely regulate two key surface behaviors, biofilm formation and swarming motility.     

PslD is a secreted protein required for biofilm formation by Pseudomonas aeruginosa

The function of pslD, which is part of the psl operon from Pseudomonas aeruginosa, was investigated in this study. The psl operon is involved in exopolysaccharide biosynthesis and biofilm formation. An isogenic marker-free pslD deletion mutant of P. aeruginosa PAO1 which was deficient in the formation of differentiated biofilms was generated. Expression of only the pslD gene coding region restored the wild-type phenotype. A C-terminal, hexahistidine tag fusion enabled the identification of PslD. LacZ and PhoA translational fusions with PslD indicated that PslD is a secreted protein required for biofilm formation, presumably via its role in exopolysaccharide export.     

大蒜素对铜绿假单胞菌生物膜形成的影响及结构定量化分析

目的利用激光共聚焦显微镜（Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy, CLSM）观察大蒜素对铜绿假单胞菌PA01菌株生物膜（biofilms,BF）形成过程的影响,并用ISA（Image Structure Analyzer）软件对BF结构进行定量化分析。方法体外建立1d．3d和7d组PA01菌株BF模型,每组分3小组,分别用生理盐水、大蒜素128μg／mL、大蒜素10μg／mL作用6h。通过荧光探针SYT09／PI标记,利用CLSM进行动态观察,并用ISA软件对其BF结构进行定量分析。结果（1）生理盐水对照组铜绿假单胞菌生物膜厚度随时间的增加而增加,但在后3d增加的速度减慢;同时区域孔率（Areal Porosity,AP）呈下降趋势,平均扩散距离（Average Diffusion Distance,ADD）有逐渐增加趋势,结构熵（Textural Entropy,TE）有增加的趋势。（2）7d组模型中,大蒜素128μg／mL作用后,BF厚度由（28．83±0．67）μm减低到（16．50±0．69）μm;AP由0．76±0．10增加到0．92±0．02;TE由6．78±0．93减低到5．61±0．55。10μg／mL大蒜素干预后,有同样趋势,但效应不如高浓度明显。（3）1d、3d模型组,大蒜素作用后同对照组相比,厚度、AP、TE的差异均有统计学意义,趋势同7d组。结论通过ISA软件对干预前后的BF进行结构定量分析,大蒜素对各个时间段BF的形成均有影响,高浓度效果更显著。     

Mechanism of resistance to benzalkonium chloride by Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

The mechanisms of resistance of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to benzalkonium chloride (BC) were studied. The effluence of cell components was observed in susceptible P. aeruginosa by electron microscopy, but resistant P. aeruginosa seemed to be undamaged. No marked changes in cell surface potential between Escherichia coli NIHJC-2 and a spheroplast strain were found. The contents of phospholipids (PL) and fatty and neutral lipids (FNL) in the cell walls of resistant P. aeruginosa were higher than those in the cell walls of susceptible P. aeruginosa. The amounts of BC adsorbed to PL and FNL of cell walls of BC-resistant P. aeruginosa were lower than those for BC-susceptible P. aeruginosa. Fifteen species of cellular fatty acids were identified by capillary gas chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The ability of BC to permeate the cell wall was reduced because of the increase in cellular fatty acids. These results suggested that the resistance of P. aeruginosa to BC is mainly a result of increased in the contents of PL and FNL. In resistant P. aeruginosa, the decrease in the amount of BC adsorbed is likely to be the result of increases in the contents of PL and FNL.     

HD-GYP domain proteins regulate biofilm formation and virulence in Pseudomonas aeruginosa

HD-GYP is a protein domain involved in the hydrolysis of the bacterial second messenger cyclic-di-GMP. The genome of the human pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 encodes two proteins (PA4108, PA4781) with an HD-GYP domain and a third protein, PA2572, which contains a domain with variant key residues (YN-GYP). Here we have investigated the role of these proteins in biofilm formation, virulence factor synthesis and virulence of P. aeruginosa . Mutation of PA4108 and PA4781 led to an increase in the level of cyclic-di-GMP in P. aeruginosa , consistent with the predicted activity of the encoded proteins as cyclic-di-GMP phosphodiesterases. Mutation of both genes led to reduced swarming motility but had differing effects on production of the virulence factors pyocyanin, pyoverdin and ExoS. Mutation of PA2572 had no effect on cyclic-di-GMP levels and did not influence swarming motility. However, PA2572 had a negative influence on swarming that was cryptic and was revealed only after removal of an uncharacterized C-terminal domain. Mutation of PA4108 , PA4781 and PA2572 had distinct effects on biofilm formation and architecture of P. aeruginosa. All three proteins contributed to virulence of P. aeruginosa to larvae of the Greater Wax moth Galleria mellonella.     

Low concentrations of ethanol stimulate biofilm and pellicle formation in Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Biofilms are communities of surface-attached microbial cells that resist environmental stresses. In this study, we found that low concentrations of ethanol increase biofilm formation in Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 but not in a mutant of it lacking both Psl and Pel exopolysaccharides. Low concentrations of ethanol also increased pellicle formation at the air–liquid interface.