Effect of DNase and antibiotics on biofilm characteristics

Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2009 Mar;53(3):1204-9. doi: 10.1128/AAC.00471-08. Epub 2008 Dec 8.

Abstract

The role of extracellular DNA in the maintenance of biofilms formed by gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria was studied. This study evaluated all the bacterial strains that were tested for the presence of extracellular DNA with an average size of 30 kb in the matrix. Our results indicate changes in community biomass, architecture, morphology, and the numbers of CFU in the presence of DNase. This effect seems to be common to biofilms established by various unrelated gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. The cleavage of extracellular DNA leads to the formation of an altered biofilm that permits the increased penetration of antibiotics. Thus, the addition of DNase enhances the effect of antibiotics, resulting in decreased biofilm biomass and numbers of CFU.

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology*
  • Biofilms / drug effects*
  • Biofilms / growth & development
  • Colony Count, Microbial
  • Deoxyribonucleases / pharmacology*
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Drug Combinations
  • Gram-Negative Bacteria / drug effects*
  • Gram-Negative Bacteria / growth & development
  • Gram-Positive Bacteria / drug effects*
  • Gram-Positive Bacteria / growth & development
  • Humans
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Plankton / drug effects

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Drug Combinations
  • Deoxyribonucleases