Abstract
Violacein is an indole compound, produced by Chromobacterium violaceum, a bacteria present in tropical and subtropical areas. Among its numerous biological activities, its antimicrobial potential stands out. This study aims to determine the antimicrobial activity of VIO on S. aureus in planktonic culture and biofilms. VIO showed excellent antimicrobial activity in inhibiting and killing S. aureus in planktonic cultures and biofilm formation. The minimum bactericidal concentration (5 μg/mL) of VIO caused the death of S. aureus after 3–4 h of exposure and the minimum inhibitory concentration (1.25 μg/mL) of VIO inhibited bacterial growth within the first 8 h of contact. Biofilm formation was also strongly inhibited by VIO (1.25 μg/mL), in contrast to the higher resistance verified for S. aureus in mature biofilm (40 μg/mL). The high bacterial metabolic activity favored VIO activity; however, the good activity observed during phases of reduced metabolism indicates that VIO action involves more than one mechanism. Thus, VIO is a promising molecule for the development of an antimicrobial drug for the eradication of S. aureus infections.
Highlights
Staphylococcus aureus, one of the main etiological agents of acquired infections in the community and the environment [1], has a remarkable ability to adapt and an enormous ability to rapidly develop resistance to countless antibiotics [2]
Our results show total inhibition of bacterial metabolism and loss of S
The resistance of S. aureus to antimicrobial agents used in the treatment of infectious diseases hinders or even prevents treatment success, which is enhanced by its biofilm growth [20]
Summary
Staphylococcus aureus, one of the main etiological agents of acquired infections in the community and the environment [1], has a remarkable ability to adapt and an enormous ability to rapidly develop resistance to countless antibiotics [2]. Biofilms are heterogeneous bacterial communities, irreversibly bound to a complex matrix consisting of DNA, proteins, and polysaccharides [3], which have an altered phenotype regarding growth rate and gene transcription [4]. Microbial growth in biofilm plays an important role during infection by providing different defense mechanisms to the microorganism. The biofilm matrix can prevent the access of immune cells, such as macrophages [5], as well as promote increased tolerance of microorganisms to antimicrobial agents [6]. The ability of S. aureus to form biofilms on medical devices, such as catheters and prostheses, increases its virulence and contributes to treatment failure [4,7]. Compared to its planktonic state, S. aureus in biofilms shows a significant difference in gene expression and in its physiology [8]
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