Journal of Drug Metabolism & Toxicology
Open Access
ISSN: 2157-7609
+44-20-4587-4809
ISSN: 2157-7609
+44-20-4587-4809
Monica Sparo, Gaston Delpech and Sabina Lissarrague
National University of Central Buenos Aires, Argentina
Posters & Accepted Abstracts: J Drug Metab Toxicol
Large-scale antimicrobial use exerts a selective pressure over prevalent pathogens, such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). On the last years, biofilm formation has been added to antimicrobial multi-resistance. Often, biofilm associated infections develop into a chronic state. Lack of new pharmacological options for the treatment of infectious diseases determined the search of alternative therapeutical strategies which complement conventional antimicrobials. One possibility is the antagonism mediated by antimicrobial peptides, such as AP-CECT7121, an enterocin produced by the strain Enterococcus faecalis CECT7121. The aim of this study was to assess the activity of AP-CECT7121 against biofilm-producers MSRA. Antibiofilm activity was studied against n:7 MRSA from hemocultures of patients with skin and soft tissue infections, attending at a general hospital (2017). Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) for AP-CECT7121 was determined. For assessing enterocin activity against biofilm cells, suspensions in brain-heart broth-glucose 1% broth were added to wells and incubated for 24 h at 35�?±2�?ºC. Formed biofilms were incubated with AP-CECT7121 (MICx1, MICx4) for 1 and 24 h. viable cell counts were performed in triplicate. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was carried out with an inert surface treated with APCECT7121. MSRA was added and biofilm formation was observed. Dose dependent effect of enterocin against biofilm cells was detected. AP-CECT7121 (MICx4) showed bactericidal activity at 24 h (-3.0 to -3.3Log10CFU/ml). Through SEM, prevention of biofilm formation with AP-CECT7121 was proved. Enterocin AP-CECT7121 constitutes an attractive candidate as a natural tool for prevention and treatment of biofilm-associated infections produced by MRSA.
Mónica Sparo has completed her PhD in Biochemistry and Microbiology from Universidad Nacional de Buenos Aires of Argentina. She is an Associate Professor at the Universidad Nacional Del Centro de Buenos Aires, School of Medicine. Her main research areas are “Antimicrobial resistance and bacterial pathogenicity determinants”. She has been awarded 27 grants for research projects. She has published more than 80 papers in reputed journals.
Email:monicasparo@gmail.com