Abstract
Biofilm formation on exposed surfaces is a serious issue for the food industry and medical health facilities. There are many proposed strategies to delay, reduce, or even eliminate biofilm formation on surfaces. The present study focuses on the applicability of fire ant venom alkaloids (aka ‘solenopsins’, from Solenopsis invicta) tested on polystyrene and stainless steel surfaces relative to the adhesion and biofilm-formation by the bacterium Pseudomonas fluorescens. Conditioning with solenopsins demonstrates significant reduction of bacterial adhesion. Inhibition rates were 62.7% on polystyrene and 59.0% on stainless steel surfaces. In addition, solenopsins drastically reduced cell populations already growing on conditioned surfaces. Contrary to assumptions by previous authors, solenopsins tested negative for amphipathic properties, thus understanding the mechanisms behind the observed effects still relies on further investigation.
Highlights
Any exposed surface, ranging from biological tissues to stainless steel, is vulnerable to the adhesion of microorganisms, whose accumulated secreted factors may lead to the formation of a biofilm matrix [1,2]
(Θww)) and and energetic energetic characteristics of polystyrene and stainless steel coupons conditioned with solenopsins characteristics of polystyrene and stainless steel coupons conditioned with solenopsins and and controls
Solenopsins are animal-derived alkaloids active against a number of microbes [20,30,31] that have been demonstrated to affect biofilm formation via a molecular disruption of quorum sensing in Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Schroeter 1872) [21]
Summary
Any exposed surface, ranging from biological tissues to stainless steel, is vulnerable to the adhesion of microorganisms, whose accumulated secreted factors may lead to the formation of a biofilm matrix [1,2]. A range of microorganisms can form biofilms, of which the gram-negative bacterium Pseudomonas fluorescens (Flügge 1886) is one of the most intensively studied This aerobic bacterium will rapidly form biofilms on surfaces with different physicochemical properties, including polystyrene, stainless steel, and polyamides [12,13]. A group of alkaloids derived from the venom of fire ants (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Solenopsis) trivially known as ‘solenopsins’ (reviewed in [20]) has been recently proposed as a potential candidate for biofilm inhibition [21] but remains mostly untested In this context, the present report adds further information on the anti-biofilm effects from conditioning surfaces with solenopsin alkaloids obtained from solvent extraction of red imported fire ants
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