Lipoteichoic acids of lactobacilli inhibit Enterococcus faecalis biofilm formation and disrupt the preformed biofilm

• Published in: The journal of microbiology 2019, 57(4), , pp.310-315
• Main Authors: Jung, Solmin, Park, Ok-Jin, Kim, A. Reum, Ahn, Ki Bum, Lee, Dongwook, Kum, Kee-Yeon, Yun, Cheol-Heui, Han, Seung Hyun
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anti-Bacterial Agents - metabolism; Anti-Bacterial Agents - pharmacology; Antimicrobial agents; Bacteria; Biofilms; Biofilms - drug effects; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Dentin; Dentin - microbiology; Diseases; Enterococcus faecalis; Enterococcus faecalis - drug effects; Enterococcus faecalis - growth & development; Enterococcus faecalis - physiology; Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections - microbiology; Gum disease; Humans; Inflammatory diseases; Lactobacilli; Lactobacillus; Lactobacillus - chemistry; Lactobacillus - metabolism; Lactobacillus acidophilus; Lactobacillus plantarum; Lactobacillus rhamnosus; Life Sciences; Lipopolysaccharides - metabolism; Lipopolysaccharides - pharmacology; Lipoteichoic acid; Microbial Pathogenesis and Host-Microbe Interaction; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Microbiology; Optical density; Periodontitis; Phagocytosis; Planktonic cells; Scanning electron microscopy; Spectrophotometers; Teichoic Acids - metabolism; Teichoic Acids - pharmacology; Tooth Diseases - microbiology; Tubules; 생물학
• ISSN: 1225-8873; 1976-3794
• DOI: 10.1007/s12275-019-8538-4

Enterococcus faecalis , a Gram-positive bacterium commonly isolated in patients with refractory apical periodontitis, invades dentin tubules easily and forms biofilms. Bacteria in biofilms, which contribute to recurrent and/or chronic inflammatory diseases, are more resistant to antimicrobial agents than planktonic cells and easily avoid phagocytosis. Although Lactobacillus plantarum lipoteichoic acid (Lp.LTA) is associated with biofilm formation, the effect of Lp.LTA on biofilm formation by E. faecalis is not clearly understood. In this study, we investigated whether Lp.LTA inhibits E. faecalis biofilm formation. The degree of biofilm formation was determined by using crystal violet assay and LIVE/DEAD bacteria staining. The quantification of bacterial growth was determined by measuring the optical density at 600 nm with a spectrophotometer. Formation of biofilms on human dentin slices was observed under a scanning electron microscope. E. faecalis biofilm formation was reduced by Lp.LTA treatment in a dose-dependent manner. Lp.LTA inhibited biofilm development of E. faecalis at the early stage without affecting bacterial growth. LTA from other Lactobacillus species such as Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus casei , or Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG also inhibited E. faecalis biofilm formation. In particular, among LTAs from various lactobacilli, Lp.LTA showed the highest inhibitory effect on biofilms formed by E. faecalis . Interestingly, LTAs from lactobacilli could remove the biofilm preformed by E. faecalis . These inhibitory effects were also observed on the surface of human dentin slices. In conclusion, Lactobacillus species LTA inhibits biofilm formation caused by E. faecalis and it could be used as an anti-biofilm agent for prevention or treatment against E. faecalis -associated diseases.