title: Development of an aptamer-ampicillin conjugate for treating biofilms.
abstract: Biofilm formation involves the development of extracellular matrix and initially depends on adherence and tropism by flagellar movement. With the widespread development of antibiotic resistance and tolerance of biofilms, there is a growing need for novel anti-infective strategies. No currently approved medications specifically target biofilms. Aptamers are single-stranded nucleic acid molecules that may bind to their targets with high affinity and affect the target functions. We developed a bifunctional conjugate by linking an aptamer targeting bacterial flagella with ampicillin. We investigated its influence on biofilm prevention and dissolution by ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometry, inverted microscopy, and atomic force microscopy. This conjugate had distinctive antibacterial activity. Notably, the conjugate was more active than either component, and thus had a synergistic effect against biofilms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, College of Life Science, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, Hunan, 410081, China; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, Hunan, 410208, China.
authors.forename: Cheng
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lijuan
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, College of Life Science, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, Hunan, 410081, China.
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xing
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, College of Life Science, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, Hunan, 410081, China.
authors.forename: Wu
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Minxi
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, College of Life Science, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, Hunan, 410081, China; Department of Biochemistry, The State Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics & School of Life Science, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410013, China.
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wenkai
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, College of Life Science, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, Hunan, 410081, China. Electronic address: dengle@hunnu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Deng
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Le
mesh_terms: D000667:Ampicillin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000138:chemical synthesis; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000138:chemical synthesis; D052157:Aptamers, Nucleotide / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000235:genetics; D001413:Bacillus thuringiensis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D058491:Bacterial Load; D001483:Base Sequence; D018441:Biofilms / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D004357:Drug Synergism; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D005407:Flagella / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D052156:SELEX Aptamer Technique; D012475:Salmonella / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D012482:Salmonella paratyphi A / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D052157:Aptamers, Nucleotide; D000667:Ampicillin
keywords: Antibiofilm; Conjugate; Flagella; S. choleraesuis