Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm disruption using microbial surfactants

De Rienzo MA, Díaz; PS, Stevenson; R, Marchant; IM, Banat

Abstract

Aims
To establish the ability of the rhamnolipids biosurfactants from Pseudomonas aeruginosa, in the presence and absence of caprylic acid and ascorbic acid, to disrupt bacterial biofilms, compared with the anionic alkyl sulphate surfactant Sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS).

Methods and Results
Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 15442 biofilms were disrupted by rhamnolipids at concentrations between 0·5 and 0·4 g l−1 and with SDS at 0·8 g l−1. The combination of rhamnolipids 0·4 g l−1 and caprylic acid at 0·1 g l−1 showed a remarkable effect on biofilm disruption and cell killing. After 30 min of treatment most of the biofilm was disrupted and cell viability was significantly reduced. Neither caprylic acid nor ascorbic acid has any effect on biofilm disruption at 0·1 g l−1. SDS is an effective antimicrobial agent; however, in the presence of caprylic acid its effect was neutralized.

Conclusions
The results show that rhamnolipids at low concentration in the presence of caprylic acid are promising molecules for inhibition/disruption of biofilms formed by Ps. aeruginosa ATCC 15442.

Significance and Impact of the Study
The disruption of biofilms has major significance in many industrial and domestic cleaning applications and in medical situations.

Citation

De Rienzo MA, D., PS, S., R, M., & IM, B. (2016). Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm disruption using microbial surfactants. Journal of Applied Microbiology, 120(4), 868-876. https://doi.org/10.1111/jam.13049

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: Apr 1, 2016
• Deposit Date: Aug 24, 2023
• Print ISSN: 1364-5072
• Publisher: Wiley
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 120
• Issue: 4
• Pages: 868-876
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/jam.13049
• PMID: 26742560