| Title: | covR Mediated Antibiofilm Activity of 3-Furancarboxaldehyde Increases the Virulence of Group A Streptococcus |
| Author(s): | Ashwinkumar Subramenium G; Viszwapriya D; Iyer PM; Balamurugan K; Karutha Pandian S; |
| Address: | "Department of Biotechnology, Alagappa University, Science Campus, Karaikudi, Tamil Nadu, India" |
| DOI: | 10.1371/journal.pone.0127210 |
| ISSN/ISBN: | 1932-6203 (Electronic) 1932-6203 (Linking) |
| Abstract: | "BACKGROUND: Group A streptococcus (GAS, Streptococcus pyogenes), a multi-virulent, exclusive human pathogen responsible for various invasive and non-invasive diseases possesses biofilm forming phenomenon as one of its pathogenic armaments. Recently, antibiofilm agents have gained prime importance, since inhibiting the biofilm formation is expected to reduce development of antibiotic resistance and increase their susceptibility to the host immune cells. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: The current study demonstrates the antibiofilm activity of 3Furancarboxaldehyde (3FCA), a floral honey derived compound, against GAS biofilm, which was divulged using crystal violet assay, light microscopy, and confocal laser scanning microscopy. The report is extended to study its effect on various aspects of GAS (morphology, virulence, aggregation) at its minimal biofilm inhibitory concentration (132mug/ml). 3FCA was found to alter the growth pattern of GAS in solid and liquid medium and increased the rate of auto-aggregation. Electron microscopy unveiled the increase in extra polymeric substances around cell. Gene expression studies showed down-regulation of covR gene, which is speculated to be the prime target for the antibiofilm activity. Increased hyaluronic acid production and down regulation of srtB gene is attributed to the enhanced rate of auto-aggregation. The virulence genes (srv, mga, luxS and hasA) were also found to be over expressed, which was manifested with the increased susceptibility of the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans to 3FCA treated GAS. The toxicity of 3FCA was ruled out with no adverse effect on C. elegans. SIGNIFICANCE: Though 3FCA possess antibiofilm activity against GAS, it was also found to increase the virulence of GAS. This study demonstrates that, covR mediated antibiofilm activity may increase the virulence of GAS. This also emphasizes the importance to analyse the acclimatization response and virulence of the pathogen in the presence of antibiofilm compounds prior to their clinical trials" |
| Keywords: | "Animals Bacterial Proteins/*genetics Biofilms/*drug effects Caenorhabditis elegans/drug effects Down-Regulation/drug effects/genetics Drug Resistance, Microbial/drug effects Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial/drug effects/genetics Humans Plant Extracts;" |
| Notes: | "MedlineAshwinkumar Subramenium, Ganapathy Viszwapriya, Dharmaprakash Iyer, Prasanth Mani Balamurugan, Krishnaswamy Karutha Pandian, Shunmugiah eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't 2015/05/16 PLoS One. 2015 May 15; 10(5):e0127210. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0127210. eCollection 2015" |
