Inhibition of Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm formation on wound dressings.
Chronic nonhealing skin wounds often contain bacterial biofilms that prevent normal wound healing and closure and present challenges to the use of conventional wound dressings. We investigated inhibition of Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm formation, a common pathogen of chronic skin wounds, on a commercially available biological wound dressing. Building on prior reports, we examined whether the amino acid tryptophan would inhibit P. aeruginosa biofilm formation on the three-dimensional surface of the biological dressing. Bacterial biomass and biofilm polysaccharides were quantified using crystal violet staining or an enzyme linked lectin, respectively. Bacterial cells and biofilm matrix adherent to the wound dressing were visualized through scanning electron microscopy. D-/L-tryptophan inhibited P. aeruginosa biofilm formation on the wound dressing in a dose dependent manner and was not directly cytotoxic to immortalized human keratinocytes although there was some reduction in cellular metabolism or enzymatic activity. More importantly, D-/L-tryptophan did not impair wound healing in a splinted skin wound murine model. Furthermore, wound closure was improved when D-/L-tryptophan treated wound dressing with P. aeruginosa biofilms were compared with untreated dressings. These findings indicate that tryptophan may prove useful for integration into wound dressings to inhibit biofilm formation and promote wound healing.
Department of Pathobiological Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin.
Kenneth S
KS
Brandenburg
Department of Surgical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin.
Diego F
DF
Calderon
Department of Surgical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin.
Patricia R
PR
Kierski
Department of Surgical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin.
Amanda L
AL
Brown
Department of Surgical and Radiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California-Davis, Davis, California.
Nihar M
NM
Shah
Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin.
Nicholas L
NL
Abbott
Mission Trauma Services, Mission Medical Associates, Mission Memorial Hospital, Asheville, North Carolina.
Michael J
MJ
Schurr
Department of Surgical and Radiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California-Davis, Davis, California.|Department of Ophthalmology & Vision Science, School of Medicine, University of California-Davis, Davis, California.
Christopher J
CJ
Murphy
Department of Surgical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin.
Jonathan F
JF
McAnulty
Department of Pathobiological Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin.
Charles J
CJ
Czuprynski
D000818:Animals; D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001458:Bandages; D018441:Biofilms / Q000187:drug effects; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D011552:Pseudomonas Infections / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology*; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000187:drug effects*; D017695:Soft Tissue Injuries / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology*; D014364:Tryptophan / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014945:Wound Healing; D014946:Wound Infection / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology*
D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D014364:Tryptophan