title: In Vitro Antimicrobial Susceptibility of Pathogenic Leptospira Biofilm.
abstract: Pathogenic Leptospira spp. are the causative agent of leptospirosis. Biofilm formation in leptospires is a new area of study, and its role in pathogenesis is not fully explored. As in other biofilm-forming bacteria, Leptospira biofilm may play a significant role in antibiotic resistance. In this study, the antimicrobial susceptibility of Leptospira biofilm was investigated by 96-well plate assay using Alamar Blue. Leptospira biofilm showed five to sixfold increase in resistance in all the strains used. The range of minimal bactericidal concentrations for penicillin G, ampicillin, tetracycline, and doxycycline was 1,600 U/ml, 800-1,600 μg/ml, 800-1,600 μg/ml, and 800-1,600 μg/ml, respectively. In agar substrate, the biofilm showed six- to sevenfold increase in resistance to antibiotics compared to planktonic cell. The present study emphasizes the importance of biofilm formation and its antibiotic susceptibility patterns. This could pave the way for devising appropriate strategy to prevent the occurrence of potential chronic leptospirosis in endemic areas and also during an outbreak situation.
authors.affiliation: 1 Regional Medical Research Centre (ICMR) , WHO Collaborating Centre for Diagnosis, Reference, Research and Training in Leptospirosis, Port Blair, India .
authors.forename: Kirubakaran
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Vinod Kumar
authors.affiliation: 1 Regional Medical Research Centre (ICMR) , WHO Collaborating Centre for Diagnosis, Reference, Research and Training in Leptospirosis, Port Blair, India .
authors.forename: Chandan
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lall
authors.affiliation: 1 Regional Medical Research Centre (ICMR) , WHO Collaborating Centre for Diagnosis, Reference, Research and Training in Leptospirosis, Port Blair, India .
authors.forename: Ratchagadasse Vimal
authors.initials: RV
authors.lastname: Raj
authors.affiliation: 2 National Hub for Healthcare Instrumentation Development (NHHID), Centre for Biotechnology, Anna University , Chennai, India .
authors.forename: Kumaresan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Vedhagiri
authors.affiliation: 1 Regional Medical Research Centre (ICMR) , WHO Collaborating Centre for Diagnosis, Reference, Research and Training in Leptospirosis, Port Blair, India .
authors.forename: Ittoop Pulikkottil
authors.initials: IP
authors.lastname: Sunish
authors.affiliation: 1 Regional Medical Research Centre (ICMR) , WHO Collaborating Centre for Diagnosis, Reference, Research and Training in Leptospirosis, Port Blair, India .
authors.forename: Paluru
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vijayachari
mesh_terms: D000667:Ampicillin / Q000494:pharmacology; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018441:Biofilms / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D004318:Doxycycline / Q000494:pharmacology; D024901:Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial / Q000502:physiology*; D007919:Leptospira / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D010400:Penicillin G / Q000494:pharmacology; D010933:Plankton / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D013752:Tetracycline / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000667:Ampicillin; D013752:Tetracycline; D004318:Doxycycline; D010400:Penicillin G
keywords: Leptospira; antimicrobial susceptibility; biofilm; resistance