title: Evaluation of fungal chitosan as a biocontrol and antibacterial agent using fluorescence-labeling.
abstract: Chitosan is a precious biological polysaccharide that could be applied in several fields. Fluorescein isothiocyanate-labeled chitosan (FITC-CTS) was synthesized as a macromolecular fluorophore added to fungal chitosan from Aspergillus niger, to investigate the interaction mechanism and antibacterial performance of (FITC-CTS) against Escherichia coli and Micrococcus leteus. Fluorescence imaging was used to demonstrate chitosan effect on the bacterial cells. Fluorescence density of treated bacteria with FITC-CTS was correlated with viable cell number. Electron micrographs of treated E. coli with fungal chitosan revealed that chitosan principally interact with bacterial cell wall, causing cell wall lyses with exposure time prolongation. Fungal chitosan could be proposed for bacterial growth control as a powerful, natural and safe alternative to synthetic and chemical bactericides. Fluorescence labeling proved to be an efficient tool for determining the antimicrobial activity of chitosan.
authors.affiliation: Promising Researches Center in Biological Control and Agricultural Information, Qassim University, Bureidah 51452, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Shaaban H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Moussa
authors.forename: Ahmed A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Tayel
authors.forename: Ahmad I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Al-Turki
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001234:Aspergillus niger / Q000737:chemistry*; D061046:Biological Control Agents; D048271:Chitosan / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D016650:Fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate / Q000378:metabolism; D005453:Fluorescence; D013194:Staining and Labeling
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D061046:Biological Control Agents; D048271:Chitosan; D016650:Fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate