title: Ethyl Pyruvate: An Anti-Microbial Agent that Selectively Targets Pathobionts and Biofilms.
abstract: The microbiota has a strong influence on health and disease in humans. A causative shift favoring pathobionts is strongly linked to diseases. Therefore, anti-microbial agents selectively targeting potential pathogens as well as their biofilms are urgently demanded. Here we demonstrate the impact of ethyl pyruvate, so far known as ROS scavenger and anti-inflammatory agent, on planktonic microbes and biofilms. Ethyl pyruvate combats preferably the growth of pathobionts belonging to bacteria and fungi independent of the genera and prevailing drug resistance. Surprisingly, this anti-microbial agent preserves symbionts like Lactobacillus species. Moreover, ethyl pyruvate prevents the formation of biofilms and promotes matured biofilms dissolution. This potentially new anti-microbial and anti-biofilm agent could have a tremendous positive impact on human, veterinary medicine and technical industry as well.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Microbiology, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.|Institute of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.|College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Tewodros
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Debebe
authors.affiliation: Institute of Bacteriology and Mycology, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Krüger
authors.affiliation: Leibniz Institute on Aging-Fritz Lipmann Institute, Jena, Germany.
authors.forename: Klaus
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Huse
authors.affiliation: Institute of Veterinary Anatomy, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kacza
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Neurology & Dermatology, Angiology, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: Katja
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mühlberg
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Microbiology, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: Brigitte
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: König
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: Gerd
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Birkenmeier