title: The serine protease Esperase HPF inhibits the formation of multispecies biofilm.
abstract: The antifouling (AF) potential of the serine protease Esperase HPF (subtilisin) was evaluated for the ability to prevent the formation of a four-species bacterial biofilm. The effects of enzyme activity, time and application of the enzyme were tested on the density and the oxidative metabolism of biofilm developed in microtiter wells. Esperase HPF did not inhibit the oxidative metabolism of the bacterial biofilm or planktonic growth, but the enzyme inhibited biofilm formation by its proteolytic activity as inactivated enzyme had no effect. The effective enzyme concentration was determined over a period of 72 h, as by then all the tested concentrations inhibited biofilm formation maximally. The effective concentrations of the enzymes in solution were the same regardless of time of application (ie before or after biofilm formation), but immobilisation of the enzymes caused a lower effective concentration. Esperase HPF is an attractive alternative to the biocidal compounds used in AF coatings today.
authors.affiliation: BioLocus A/S, DK 2970 Hørsholm, Denmark. marha@life.ku.dk
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hangler
authors.forename: Mette
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Burmølle
authors.forename: Ib
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Schneider
authors.forename: Knud
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Allermann
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Jensen
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001419:Bacteria / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D018441:Biofilms / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D057219:Biofouling / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases / Q000494:pharmacology*; D057057:Serine Proteases / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013045:Species Specificity; D020860:Subtilisin / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D057057:Serine Proteases; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases; C021553:mesentericopeptidase; D020860:Subtilisin