Structural and metabolic responses of Staphylococcus aureus biofilms to hyperosmotic and antibiotic stress
- The Gene and Linda Voiland School of Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering, Washington State University, Pullman Washington
- Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland Washington
- Paul G. Allen School for Global Animal Health, Washington State University, Pullman Washington
- The Gene and Linda Voiland School of Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering, Washington State University, Pullman Washington; Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland Washington; Earth and Biological Sciences Division, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland Washington
Biofilms alter their metabolism in response to environmental stress. This study explores the effect of a hyperosmotic agent–antibiotic treatment on the metabolism of Staphylococcus aureus biofilms through the use of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) techniques. To determine the metabolic activity of S. aureus, we quantified the concentrations of metabolites in spent medium using high-resolution NMR spectroscopy. Biofilm porosity, thickness, biovolume, and relative diffusion coefficient depth profiles were obtained using NMR microimaging. Dissolved oxygen (DO) concentration was measured to determine the availability of oxygen within the biofilm. Under vancomycin-only treatment, the biofilm communities switched to anaerobic fermentation, as evidenced by high concentrations of formate, acetate, and lactate, and there was no detectable dissolved oxygen in the biofilm. Anaerobic conditions such as fermentation can signify that biofilm is combating antibiotic stress by developing resistance. In addition, we observed the highest consumption of pyruvate, the sole carbon source, under the vancomycin-only treatment. On the other hand, relative effective diffusion coefficients increased under vancomycin-only treatment but decreased under maltodextrin-only and combined treatments. No change was observed in either biofilm thickness or biovolume for biofilms treated with maltodextrin-only or in combination with vancomycin. This indicates that biofilm growth was halted during maltodextrin-only and combined treatments. Overall, we demonstrated that the metabolic activity of S. aureus biofilm is affected by hyperosmotic and antibiotic stress.
- Research Organization:
- Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States). Environmental Molecular Sciences Lab. (EMSL)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC05-76RL01830
- OSTI ID:
- 1438994
- Report Number(s):
- PNNL-SA-129573; 48655
- Journal Information:
- Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Vol. 115, Issue 6; ISSN 0006-3592
- Publisher:
- Wiley
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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