Abstract
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) are among the most important biofilm-forming pathogens responsible for hard-to-treat infections. Looking for alternatives to antibiotics that prevent biofilm formation, we investigated the effects of manuka honey on the transcriptional profile of genes essential for staphylococcal biofilm formation using qRT-PCR. mRNA from two hospital MRSA strains (strong and weak biofilm producer) were isolated after 4, 8, 12 and 24 h from cells grown in biofilm. Manuka honey at 1/2 minimum biofilm inhibition concentration (MBIC) significantly reduced MRSA cell viability in biofilm. Manuka honey downregulated the genes encoding laminin- (eno), elastin- (ebps) and fibrinogen binding protein (fib), and icaA and icaD involved in biosynthesis of polysaccharide intercellular adhesin in both weakly and strongly adhering strain compared to the control (untreated biofilm). Expression levels of cna (collagen binding protein) and map/eap (extracellular adherence protein—Eap) were reduced in weakly adhering strain. The lowest expression of investigated genes was observed after 12 h of manuka honey treatment at 1/2 MBIC. This study showed that the previously unknown mechanism of manuka honey action involved inhibition of S. aureus adhesion due to reduction in expression of crucial genes associated with staphylococcal biofilm.
Highlights
Chronic wound infections are difficult to treat and pose a serious burden to society and the healthcare system
Looking for alternatives to antibiotics that prevent biofilm formation, in the present study we focused on investigation of the effects of manuka honey on the transcriptional profile of genes that are essential for staphylococcal biofilm formation
The results obtained in this study showed the new mechanism of manuka honey action involved in the preventing of biofilm formation
Summary
Chronic wound infections are difficult to treat and pose a serious burden to society and the healthcare system. Bacterial cells predominantly exist as biofilm in which they can tolerate up to 10–1,000 times higher concentrations of antimicrobials than planktonic cells, which makes them difficult to eradicate using antibiotic therapy[2]. Antibacterial effects of manuka honey are considered to be related to substantial content of the reactive dicarbonyl methylglyoxal (MGO) and other antimicrobial compounds including bee defensin-1, various phenolic compounds and complex carbohydrates. Looking for alternatives to antibiotics that prevent biofilm formation, in the present study we focused on investigation of the effects of manuka honey on the transcriptional profile of genes that are essential for staphylococcal biofilm formation. The effects of manuka honey on expression of map/eap gene encoding extracellular adherence protein (Eap)—an anchorless protein belonging to the group of SERAMs (secretable expanded repertoire adhesive molecules) and on expression of genes from the ica operon (icaA and icaD) in different time points during biofilm formation, were investigated
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
