Hindering biofilm formation with zosteric acid.
The antifoulant, zosteric acid, was synthesized using a non-patented process. Zosteric acid at 500 mg l(-1) caused a reduction of bacterial (Escherichia coli, Bacillus cereus) and fungal (Aspergillus niger, Penicillium citrinum) coverage by 90% and 57%, respectively. Calculated models allowed its antifouling activity to be predicted at different concentrations. Zosteric acid counteracted the effects of some colonization-promoting factors. Bacterial and fungal wettability was not affected, but the agent increased bacterial motility by 40%. A capillary accumulation test showed that zosteric acid did not act as a chemoeffector for E. coli, but stimulated a chemotactic response. Along with enhanced swimming migration of E. coli in the presence of zosteric acid, staining showed an increased production of flagella. Reverse transcriptase-PCR revealed an increased transcriptional level of the fliC gene and isolation and quantification of flagellar proteins demonstrated a higher flagellin amount. Biofilm experiments confirmed that zosteric acid caused a significant decrease in biomass (-92%) and thickness (-54%).
Villa
Federica
F
Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Alimentari e Microbiologiche, Universita degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy.
Albanese
Domenico
D
Giussani
Barbara
B
Stewart
Philip S
PS
Daffonchio
Daniele
D
Cappitelli
Francesca
F
D001234:Aspergillus niger / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D001409:Bacillus cereus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D018441:Biofilms / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development*; D057219:Biofouling / Q000517:prevention & control; D018533:Biomass; D002633:Chemotaxis / Q000187:drug effects; D002934:Cinnamates / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D005407:Flagella / Q000378:metabolism; D005408:Flagellin / Q000378:metabolism; D010407:Penicillium / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D013463:Sulfuric Acid Esters / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*
D002934:Cinnamates; D013463:Sulfuric Acid Esters; C503399:zosteric acid; D005408:Flagellin