Marine bacteria associated with shallow hydrothermal systems in the Gulf of California with the capacity to produce biofilm inhibiting compounds.

Abstract

Shallow hydrothermal systems are extreme environments. The sediments and fluids emitted from the vents present unusual physical and chemical conditions compared to other marine areas, which promotes unique biodiversity that has been of great interest for biotechnology for some years. In this work, a bioprospective study was carried out to evaluate the capacity of bacteria associated with shallow hydrothermal vents to produce biofilm-inhibiting compounds. Degradation assays of N-acyl homoserine lactone (AHL) autoinducers (C6HSL) involved in the quorum sensing process were carried out on 161 strains of bacteria isolated from three shallow hydrothermal systems located in Baja California Sur (BCS), Mexico. The biosensor Chromobacterium violaceum CV026 was used. Twenty-three strains showed activity, and organic extracts were obtained with ethyl acetate. The potential of the extracts to inhibit the formation of biofilms was tested against two human pathogenic strains (Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 and Aeromonas caviae ScH3), a shrimp pathogen (Vibrio parahaemolyticus M8), and two marine strains identified as producing biofilms on submerged surfaces (Virgibacillus sp C29 and Vibrio alginolyticus C96). The results showed that Vibrio alginolyticus and Brevibacillus thermoruber, as well as some thermotolerant strains (mostly Bacillus), produce compounds that inhibit bacterial biofilms (B. licheniformis, B. paralicheniformis, B. firmus, B. oceanizedimenis, B. aerius and B. sonorensis).