First report of polymyxin B activity in Klebsiella pneumoniae biofilm

Abstract

Considering the clinical importance of biofilm in medical devices and chronic infections, this study aimed to investigate the action of polymyxin B on Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. pneumoniae) biofilm. The experiments were performed using a biofilm formation assay and the interaction of polysorbate 80 was explored. Both inhibition of biofilm formation and reduction of pre-formed biofilm occurred in a concentration-dependent manner with inhibition as high as 56 and 64%, and reduction of pre-formed biofilm as high as 70 and 66%, with and without polysorbate, respectively. The addition of polysorbate enhances the biofilm reduction, but more studies are needed to elucidate this mechanism. Our findings reveal, for the first time, polymyxin B as a potential agent for the treatment of K. pneumoniae biofilm, a current challenge for clinical practice.

Keywords:

• Antibacterial
• Biofilm
• Klebsiella pneumoniae
• Polymyxin B
• Polysorbate 80

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Funding

We would like to thank Universidade Federal de São João del-Rei, Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico and Tecnológico (CNPq), Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) and Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do estado de Minas Gerais (FAPEMIG).

Authors' Contribution

Contributors MCP conceived the study. KMSH, FKS, and MEO conducted the assay, wrote the initial draft, and did the statistical analysis. ACS and JMSF made substantive intellectual contributions to the manuscript.

Notes on contributors

Karina Marjorie Silva Herrera has a degree in Biological Sciences and master’s degree in Microbiology at the Universidade Federal de Lavras. Now is a PhD student in Health Sciences at the Universidade Federal de São João del-Rei with emphasis in Microbiology. Karina Marjorie Silva Herrera’s areas of interest are medical microbiology and antimicrobial resistance. For more information about the author please consult the curriculum lattes on the Conselho Nacional de Pesquisa – Brazil (CNPQ-Brazil) website: http://buscatextual.cnpq.br/buscatextual/visualizacv.do?id=K4232573P6

Fernanda Kelen da Silva is a Pharmaceutical student at the Universidade Federal de São João del-Rei. Fernanda Kelen da Silva’s areas of interest are medical microbiology and antimicrobial resistance. For more information about the author please consult the curriculum lattes on the Conselho Nacional de Pesquisa – Brazil (CNPQ-Brazil) website: http://buscatextual.cnpq.br/buscatextual/visualizacv.do?id=K8321489T1

Michael Éder de Oliveira hás a degree in Biological Sciences at the Universidade Estadual de Minas Gerais, master’s degree in Health Sciences and is a PhD student in Health Sciences at the Universidade Federal de São João del-Rei with emphasis in Intestinal Microbiota. Michael Éder de Oliveira’s areas of interest are interaction metabolism and microbiota. For more information about the author please consult the curriculum lattes on the Conselho Nacional de Pesquisa – Brazil (CNPQ-Brazil) website: http://buscatextual.cnpq.br/buscatextual/visualizacv.do?id=K4220682E6

Magna Cristina de Paiva has a degree in Pharmacy (Habilitation Clinical Analysis) at the Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Master and PhD’s degree in Biological Sciences: Microbiology at the Instituto de Ciências Biológicas da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais. Now is Adjunct Professor at the Universidade Federal de São João del-Rei (School of Pharmacy). She develops research in the area of Clinical Microbiology, subareas of bacterial diversity and antimicrobial resistance. For more information about the author please consult the curriculum lattes on the Conselho Nacional de Pesquisa – Brazil (CNPQ-Brazil) website: http://buscatextual.cnpq.br/buscatextual/visualizacv.do?id=K4203953D4

Adriana Cristina Soares has a degree in Pharmacy, Master and PhD’s degree in Biological Sciences Pharmacology at the Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais. She is an Associate Professor at the Universidade Federal de São João Del-Rei. She has experience in the area of Pharmacology, with emphasis on Pharmacology of Pain, Inflammation, Antimicrobial and Clinical Pharmacology, working mainly on the following topics: research of natural and synthetic substances with anti-inflammatory activity, analgesic and antimicrobial and studies of drug use. For more information about the author please consult the curriculum lattes on the Conselho Nacional de Pesquisa – Brazil (CNPQ-Brazil) website: http://buscatextual.cnpq.br/buscatextual/visualizacv.do?id=K4707993J2

Jaqueline Maria Siqueira Ferreira has a degree in Biological Sciences, Master and PhD’s degree in Kicrobiology at the Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais. She is an Associate Professor at the Universidade Federal de São João Del-Rei. Jaqueline Maria Siqueira Ferreira is a researcher in Microbiology area, with papers published about medical microbiology, antimicrobial activity of synthetic compounds and plant extracts and arboviruses. For more information about the author please consult the curriculum lattes on the Conselho Nacional de Pesquisa – Brazil (CNPQ-Brazil) website: http://buscatextual.cnpq.br/buscatextual/visualizacv.do?id=K4702786E5