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Enhancing Biocide Efficacy: Targeting Extracellular DNA for Marine Biofilm Disruption

journal contribution
posted on 2023-10-19, 04:21 authored by B Tuck, E Watkin, Anthony SomersAnthony Somers, Maria ForsythMaria Forsyth, L L Machuca
Biofilm formation is a global health, safety and economic concern. The extracellular composition of deleterious multispecies biofilms remains uncanvassed, leading to an absence of targeted biofilm mitigation strategies. Besides economic incentives, drive also exists from industry and research to develop and apply environmentally sustainable chemical treatments (biocides); especially in engineered systems associated with the marine environment. Recently, extracellular DNA (eDNA) was implicated as a critical structural polymer in marine biofilms. Additionally, an environmentally sustainable, multi-functional biocide was also introduced to manage corrosion and biofilm formation. To anticipate biofilm tolerance acquisition to chemical treatments and reduce biocide application quantities, the present research investigated eDNA as a target for biofilm dispersal and potential enhancement of biocide function. Results indicate that mature biofilm viability can be reduced by two-fold using reduced concentrations of the biocide alone (1 mM instead of the recommended 10 mM). Importantly, through the incorporation of an eDNA degradation stage, biocide function could be enhanced by a further ~90% (one further log reduction in viability). Biofilm architecture analysis post-treatment revealed that endonuclease targeting of the matrix allowed greater biocide penetration, leading to the observed viability reduction. Biofilm matrix eDNA is a promising target for biofilm dispersal and antimicrobial enhancement in clinical and engineered systems.

History

Journal

Microorganisms

Volume

10

Pagination

Jan-13

Location

Basel, Switzerland

ISSN

2076-2607

eISSN

2076-2607

Language

eng

Publication classification

C1 Refereed article in a scholarly journal