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Abstract
Nontuberculous mycobacteria, like other opportunistic premise plumbing pathogens, produce resistant biofilms on various surfaces in the plumbing system including pipes, tanks, and fittings. Since standard methods of water disinfection are ineffective in eradicating biofilms, research into new agents is necessary. Essential oils (EOs) have great potential as anti-biofilm agents. Therefore, the purpose of this research was to investigate the potential anti-biofilm effect of common juniper (Juniperus communis) and immortelle (Helichrysum italicum) EOs. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC), minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBC), and minimum effective concentrations of EOs on Mycobacterium avium, M. intracellulare, and M. gordonae were tested. Additionally, biofilms on the surface of a stainless steel disc were treated with single or mixed concentration of EOs, in order to investigate their degeneration via the bacterial count and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). H. italicum EO showed the strongest biofilm degradation ability against all Mycobacteria strains that were tested. The strongest effect in the biofilm degradation after the single or mixed applications of EOs was observed against M. gordonae, followed by M. avium. The most resistant was the M. intracellulare biofilm. Synergistic combinations of J. communis and H. italicum EOs therefore seem to be an effective substance in biofilm degradation for use in small water systems such as baths or hot tubs.
Highlights
Mycobacteria originated 150 million years ago [1]
The Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBC) values obtained for J. communis and H. italicum Essential oils (EOs) against M
The best effective combination of low synergistic combinations of the EOs to achieve a high efficacy against M. avium in the checkerboard synergy method was 0.8 mg mL−1 (1/2 of the MIC) for J. communis EO, 0.006 (1/512 of the MIC) and 0.012 mg mL−1 (1/256 of the MIC) for H. italicum EO
Summary
Mycobacteria originated 150 million years ago [1]. The genus Mycobacterium is the only member of the family Mycobacteriaceae from the order Actinomycetales and the classActinomycetes. Mycobacterium avium and M. intracellulare are members of the Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) These are slow-growing unpigmented mycobacteria that form smooth, flat, transparent colonies. MACs are the most frequently isolated pathogenic NTM species from respiratory samples [5]. M. gordonae is a mycobacterium that forms smooth orange colonies and is a mostly apathogenic, saprophytic species of NTM [5,6]. The presence of NTM in these sources is mainly a result of their ability to form biofilms and to survive in free-living amoebae [9]. M. avium has an exceptional ability to form biofilm [4] As a result, this mycobacterium, along with Legionella pneumophila, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Acinetobacter baumannii, is classified as an opportunistic premise plumbing pathogen (OPPP) [12].
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