Synergistic Nisin-Polymyxin Combinations for the Control ofPseudomonasBiofilm Formation.
The emergence and dissemination of multi-drug resistant pathogens is a global concern. Moreover, even greater levels of resistance are conferred on bacteria when in the form of biofilms (i.e., complex, sessile communities of bacteria embedded in an organic polymer matrix). For decades, antimicrobial peptides have been hailed as a potential solution to the paucity of novel antibiotics, either as natural inhibitors that can be used alone or in formulations with synergistically acting antibiotics. Here, we evaluate the potential of the antimicrobial peptide nisin to increase the efficacy of the antibiotics polymyxin and colistin, with a particular focus on their application to prevent biofilm formation ofPseudomonas aeruginosa. The results reveal that the concentrations of polymyxins that are required to effectively inhibit biofilm formation can be dramatically reduced when combined with nisin, thereby enhancing efficacy, and ultimately, restoring sensitivity. Such combination therapy may yield added benefits by virtue of reducing polymyxin toxicity through the administration of significantly lower levels of polymyxin antibiotics.
School of Microbiology, University College Cork Cork, Ireland.
Des
D
Field
School of Microbiology, University College Cork Cork, Ireland.
Nynke
N
Seisling
Teagasc Food Research CentreCork, Ireland; APC Microbiome Institute, University College CorkCork, Ireland.
Paul D
PD
Cotter
School of Microbiology, University College CorkCork, Ireland; APC Microbiome Institute, University College CorkCork, Ireland.
R P
RP
Ross
School of Microbiology, University College CorkCork, Ireland; APC Microbiome Institute, University College CorkCork, Ireland.
Colin
C
Hill
P. aeruginosa; antibiotics; bacteriocin; biofilm; colistin; lantibiotic; nisin; polymyxin