Disruption of biofilm formation by the human pathogen Acinetobacter baumannii using engineered quorum-quenching lactonases

Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2014;58(3):1802-5. doi: 10.1128/AAC.02410-13. Epub 2013 Dec 30.

Abstract

Acinetobacter baumannii is a major human pathogen associated with multidrug-resistant nosocomial infections; its virulence is attributed to quorum-sensing-mediated biofilm formation, and disruption of biofilm formation is an attractive antivirulence strategy. Here, we report the first successful demonstration of biofilm disruption in a clinical isolate of A. baumannii S1, using a quorum-quenching lactonase obtained by directed evolution; this engineered lactonase significantly reduced the biomass of A. baumannii-associated biofilms, demonstrating the utility of this antivirulence strategy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acinetobacter baumannii / drug effects*
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology*
  • Biofilms / drug effects*
  • Carboxylic Ester Hydrolases / metabolism
  • Carboxylic Ester Hydrolases / pharmacology*
  • Directed Molecular Evolution / methods
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Microscopy, Confocal
  • Quorum Sensing / drug effects*

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Carboxylic Ester Hydrolases