Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm disruption using microbial surfactants

M A Díaz De Rienzo, P S Stevenson, R Marchant, I M Banat

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    Abstract

    AIMS: To establish the ability of the rhamnolipids biosurfactants from Pseudomonas aeruginosa, in the presence and absence of caprylic acid and ascorbic acid, to disrupt bacterial biofilms, compared with the anionic alkyl sulphate surfactant Sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS).

    METHODS AND RESULTS: Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 15442 biofilms were disrupted by rhamnolipids at concentrations between 0·5 and 0·4 g l(-1) and with SDS at 0·8 g l(-1) . The combination of rhamnolipids 0·4 g l(-1) and caprylic acid at 0·1 g l(-1) showed a remarkable effect on biofilm disruption and cell killing. After 30 min of treatment most of the biofilm was disrupted and cell viability was significantly reduced. Neither caprylic acid nor ascorbic acid has any effect on biofilm disruption at 0·1 g l(-1) . SDS is an effective antimicrobial agent; however, in the presence of caprylic acid its effect was neutralized.

    CONCLUSIONS: The results show that rhamnolipids at low concentration in the presence of caprylic acid are promising molecules for inhibition/disruption of biofilms formed by Ps. aeruginosa ATCC 15442.

    SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The disruption of biofilms has major significance in many industrial and domestic cleaning applications and in medical situations.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)868-76
    Number of pages9
    JournalJournal of Applied Microbiology
    Volume120
    Issue number4
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - Apr 2016

    Keywords

    • Biofilms
    • Glycolipids
    • Pseudomonas aeruginosa
    • Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate
    • Surface-Active Agents
    • Journal Article

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