D-Serine inhibits the attachment and biofilm formation of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

Abstract

INTRODUCTION:

Although therapeutic agents for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) are clinically available, MRSA infection is still a life-threatening disease. Bacterial attachment and biofilm formation contribute significantly to the initiation of MRSA infection. Controlling MRSA's attachment and biofilm formation might reduce the frequency of MRSA infection. According to recent data, some amino acids can reduce MRSA's attachment on plates; however, their precise inhibitory mechanisms remain unclear. Therefore, we explored the effect of the amino acids on bacterial adhesion and biofilm formation in vitro and in vivo MRSA infection models.

METHODS:

We tested the inhibitory effect of amino acids on MRSA and Escherichia coli (E. coli) in the attachment assay. Moreover, we evaluated the therapeutic potential of amino acids on the in vivo catheter infection model.

RESULTS:

Among the amino acids, D-Serine (D-Ser) was found to reduce MRSA's ability to attach on plate assay. The proliferation of MRSA was not affected by the addition of D-Ser; thus, D-Ser likely only played a role in preventing attachment and biofilm formation. Then, we analyzed the expression of genes related to attachment and biofilm formation. D-Ser was found to reduce the expressions of AgrA, SarS, IcaA, DltD, and SdrD. Moreover, the polyvinyl chloride catheters treated with D-Ser had fewer MRSA colonies. D-Ser treatment also reduced the severity of infection in the catheter-induced peritonitis model. Moreover, D-Ser reduced the attachment ability of E. coli.

CONCLUSION:

D-Ser inhibits the attachment and biofilm formation of MRSA by reducing the expression of the related genes. Also, the administration of D-Ser reduces the severity of catheter infection in the mouse model. Therefore, D-Ser may be a promising therapeutic option for MRSA as well as E. coli infection.

• Authors: Yasunori Iwata, Norihiko Sakai, Ikuko Yoneda, Yasuko Senda, Yukiko Sakai-Takemori, Megumi Oshima, Shiori Nakagawa-Yoneda, Hisayuki Ogura, Koichi Sato, Taichiro Minami, Shinji Kitajima, Tadashi Toyama, Yuta Yamamura, Taro Miyagawa, Akinori Hara, Miho Shimizu, Kengo Furuichi, Kouji Matsushima, Takashi Wada
• Journal: Biochemical and biophysical research communications (Biochem Biophys Res Commun) Vol. 537 Pg. 50-56 (01 22 2021) ISSN: 1090-2104 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 33385805 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Serine
• Polyvinyl Chloride

Topics

• Animals
• Bacterial Adhesion (drug effects)
• Biofilms (drug effects)
• Catheters (microbiology)
• Disease Models, Animal
• Down-Regulation (drug effects, genetics)
• Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial (drug effects)
• Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (drug effects, genetics, physiology)
• Mice, Inbred BALB C
• Peritonitis (microbiology, pathology)
• Polyvinyl Chloride
• Serine (pharmacology)
• Mice