title: Cranberry proanthocyanidins have anti-biofilm properties against Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Bacteria within a biofilm are phenotypically more resistant to antibiotics, desiccation, and the host immune system, making it an important virulence factor for many microbes. Cranberry juice has long been used to prevent infections of the urinary tract, which are often related to biofilm formation. Recent studies have found that the A-type proanthocyanidins from cranberries have anti-biofilm properties against Escherichia coli.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using crystal violet biofilm staining, resazurin metabolism assays, and confocal imaging, we examined the ability of A-type proanthocyanidins (PACs) to disrupt the biofilm formation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. We used mass spectrometry to analyze the proteomic effects of PAC treatment. We also performed synergy assays and in vitro and in vivo infections to determine whether PACs, alone and in combination with gentamicin, could contribute to the killing of P. aeruginosa and the survival of cell lines and G. mellonella.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cranberry PACs reduced P. aeruginosa swarming motility. Cranberry PACs significantly disrupted the biofilm formation of P. aeruginosa. Proteomics analysis revealed significantly different proteins expressed following PAC treatment. In addition, we found that PACs potentiated the antibiotic activity of gentamicin in an in vivo model of infection using G. mellonella.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results suggest that A-type proanthocyanidins may be a useful therapeutic against the biofilm-mediated infections caused by P. aeruginosa and should be further tested.
authors.forename: Robert K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Ulrey
authors.forename: Stephanie M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Barksdale
authors.forename: Weidong
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: School of Systems Biology, George Mason University, Manassas, Virginia, USA. mvanhoek@gmu.edu.
authors.forename: Monique L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: van Hoek
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D018441:Biofilms / Q000187:drug effects*; D005638:Fruit / Q000737:chemistry; D009036:Moths / Q000382:microbiology; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D044945:Proanthocyanidins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D040901:Proteomics; D011552:Pseudomonas Infections / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D029799:Vaccinium macrocarpon / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D010936:Plant Extracts; D044945:Proanthocyanidins