Biofilms are densely packed communities of surface-associated cells found in moist environments. Biofilms have significance in both medicine and industry. For example, biofilms on ship surfaces cause more drag of the ship through water and decrease fuel efficiency. In medicine, pathogenic fungi or bacteria may form biofilms on internal organs. Biofilm-associated microorganisms are more resistant to antibiotics than free-living microorganisms; this is a causative factor in chronic infections. Compounds that inhibit the formation of biofilms hold promise for solving challenges in both industry and medicine. The goal of the current study was to discover marine natural products that inhibit biofilms. Chemical extracts from approximately 50 different bacteria isolated from Florida Keys sediments were screened for inhibition of Candida albicans biofilm formation using in vitro assays. Based on potent inhibition of C. albicans biofilm formation, chemical extracts from a Bacillus sp., a Brachybacterium sp., and Cobetia sp. bacterium were selected for further study of molecules responsible for observed biofilm inhibition. Reversed phase HPLC was employed to separate bioactive chemical extracts into multiple fractions. Evaluation of these fractions in the C. albicans assay tracked anti-biofilm properties to 1-2 fractions from each sample. Further, a cytotoxicity assay revealed that these compounds acted through a non-lethal mode of action. Bioactive chemical fractions were also evaluated for effects on biofilm formation by other yeasts, in order to evaluate whether compounds were targeted or broad-spectrum. These data suggest marine microorganisms as promising sources of metabolites inhibitory toward biofilms.

Natural products from marine microorganisms as inhibitors of yeast biofilms

251st National Meeting (2016)

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