Antibiofilm and Antivirulence Potentials of 3,2′-Dihydroxyflavone against Staphylococcus aureus

Abstract

Staphylococcus aureus, particularly drug-resistant strains, poses significant challenges in healthcare due to its ability to form biofilms, which confer increased resistance to antibiotics and immune responses. Building on previous knowledge that several flavonoids exhibit antibiofilm activity, this study sought to identify a novel flavonoid capable of effectively inhibiting biofilm formation and virulence factor production in S. aureus strains including MRSA. Among the 19 flavonoid-like compounds tested, 3,2′-dihydroxyflavone (3,2′-DHF) was identified for the first time as inhibiting biofilm formation and virulence factors in S. aureus with an MIC 75 µg/mL. The antibiofilm activity was further confirmed by microscopic methods. Notably, 3,2′-DHF at 5 µg/mL was effective in inhibiting both mono- and polymicrobial biofilms involving S. aureus and Candida albicans, a common co-pathogen. 3,2′-DHF reduces hemolytic activity, slime production, and the expression of key virulence factors such as hemolysin gene hla and nuclease gene nuc1 in S. aureus. These findings highlight the potential of 3,2′-DHF as a novel antibiofilm and antivirulence agent against both bacterial and fungal biofilms, offering a promising alternative to traditional antibiotics in the treatment of biofilm-associated infections.