title: Dendrimer mediated clustering of bacteria: improved aggregation and evaluation of bacterial response and viability.
abstract: Here, we evaluate how cationic gallic acid-triethylene glycol (GATG) dendrimers interact with bacteria and their potential to develop new antimicrobials. We demonstrate that GATG dendrimers functionalised with primary amines in their periphery can induce the formation of clusters in Vibrio harveyi, an opportunistic marine pathogen, in a generation dependent manner. Moreover, these cationic GATG dendrimers demonstrate an improved ability to induce cluster formation when compared to poly(N-[3-(dimethylamino)propyl]methacrylamide) [p(DMAPMAm)], a cationic linear polymer previously shown to cluster bacteria. Viability of the bacteria within the formed clusters and evaluation of quorum sensing controlled phenotypes (i.e. light production in V. harveyi) suggest that GATG dendrimers may be activating microbial responses by maintaining a high concentration of quorum sensing signals inside the clusters while increasing permeability of the microbial outer membranes. Thus, the reported GATG dendrimers constitute a valuable platform for the development of novel antimicrobial materials that can target microbial viability and/or virulence.
authors.affiliation: Centro Singular de Investigación en Química Biolóxica e Materiais Moleculares (CIQUS) and Departamento de Química Orgánica, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Jenaro de la Fuente s/n, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain. ef.megia@usc.es.
authors.forename: Emma
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Leire
authors.forename: Sandra P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Amaral
authors.forename: Iria
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Louzao
authors.forename: Klaus
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Winzer
authors.forename: Cameron
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Alexander
authors.forename: Eduardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fernandez-Megia
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fernandez-Trillo
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D018407:Bacterial Physiological Phenomena; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D050091:Dendrimers / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004705:Endocytosis; D005707:Gallic Acid / Q000737:chemistry; D050296:Microbial Viability; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000737:chemistry; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D050091:Dendrimers; D011108:Polymers; C028914:triethylene glycol; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D005707:Gallic Acid