The inhibitory effect of micafungin on biofilm formation by Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Biofouling. 2013 Sep;29(8):909-15. doi: 10.1080/08927014.2013.816299. Epub 2013 Jul 23.

Abstract

This study assesses the potential effect of micafungin, an antifungal agent known to inhibit 1,3-β-D-glucan synthesis in Candida albicans, on biofilm formation of selected Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates by decreasing the synthesis of extracellular matrix β-D-glucan forming units. The effect of an optimal therapeutic dose of 10 mg ml(-1) micafungin on the production of biofilm was monitored in vitro using a microtiter plate assay. Phenotypic reduction in the formation of biofilm was significant (based on average optical density; p < 0.05) in most of the isolates. Moreover, the relative gene expression of biofilm encoding genes for alginate and pellicles (algC and pelC, respectively), and the cell wall 1,3-β-D-glucan encoding gene (ndvB) was evaluated using quantitative reverse transcription PCR. For all the genes tested, the levels of mRNA transcription were also decreased significantly (p < 0.05) in micafungin-treated samples cf. their untreated counterparts. In conclusion, this study presents micafungin as a potential agent for disrupting the structure of a biofilm of P. aeruginosa allowing the possible exposure and treatment of core-planktonic cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alginates / metabolism
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology*
  • Antifungal Agents / pharmacology
  • Bacterial Proteins / genetics*
  • Bacterial Proteins / metabolism
  • Biofilms / drug effects*
  • Colony Count, Microbial
  • Echinocandins / pharmacology*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial / drug effects*
  • Glucuronic Acid / genetics
  • Glucuronic Acid / metabolism
  • Glycosyltransferases / genetics
  • Glycosyltransferases / metabolism
  • Hexuronic Acids / metabolism
  • Lipopeptides / pharmacology*
  • Micafungin
  • Phosphotransferases (Phosphomutases) / genetics
  • Phosphotransferases (Phosphomutases) / metabolism
  • Proteoglycans
  • Pseudomonas aeruginosa / drug effects*
  • Pseudomonas aeruginosa / physiology*
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • beta-Glucans / metabolism

Substances

  • Alginates
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Antifungal Agents
  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Echinocandins
  • Hexuronic Acids
  • Lipopeptides
  • Proteoglycans
  • RNA, Messenger
  • beta-Glucans
  • polysaccharide-K
  • Glucuronic Acid
  • Glycosyltransferases
  • Phosphotransferases (Phosphomutases)
  • Micafungin