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Inhibiting bacterial cooperation is an evolutionarily robust anti-biofilm strategy

Author

Listed:
  • Lise Dieltjens

    (Centre of Microbial and Plant Genetics (CMPG), KU Leuven)

  • Kenny Appermans

    (Centre of Microbial and Plant Genetics (CMPG), KU Leuven)

  • Maries Lissens

    (Centre of Microbial and Plant Genetics (CMPG), KU Leuven)

  • Bram Lories

    (Centre of Microbial and Plant Genetics (CMPG), KU Leuven)

  • Wook Kim

    (University of Oxford
    Duquesne University)

  • Erik V. Van der Eycken

    (Laboratory for Organic & Microwave-Assisted Chemistry (LOMAC), KU Leuven
    Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia (RUDN University))

  • Kevin R. Foster

    (University of Oxford)

  • Hans P. Steenackers

    (Centre of Microbial and Plant Genetics (CMPG), KU Leuven
    University of Oxford)

Abstract

Bacteria commonly form dense biofilms encased in extracellular polymeric substances (EPS). Biofilms are often extremely tolerant to antimicrobials but their reliance on shared EPS may also be a weakness as social evolution theory predicts that inhibiting shared traits can select against resistance. Here we show that EPS of Salmonella biofilms is a cooperative trait whose benefit is shared among cells, and that EPS inhibition reduces both cell attachment and antimicrobial tolerance. We then compare an EPS inhibitor to conventional antimicrobials in an evolutionary experiment. While resistance against conventional antimicrobials rapidly evolves, we see no evolution of resistance to EPS inhibition. We further show that a resistant strain is outcompeted by a susceptible strain under EPS inhibitor treatment, explaining why resistance does not evolve. Our work suggests that targeting cooperative traits is a viable solution to the problem of antimicrobial resistance.

Suggested Citation

  • Lise Dieltjens & Kenny Appermans & Maries Lissens & Bram Lories & Wook Kim & Erik V. Van der Eycken & Kevin R. Foster & Hans P. Steenackers, 2020. "Inhibiting bacterial cooperation is an evolutionarily robust anti-biofilm strategy," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 11(1), pages 1-11, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:11:y:2020:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-019-13660-x
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-13660-x
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    1. Tingting Li & Xuanbai Ren & Xiaoli Luo & Zhuole Wang & Zhenlu Li & Xiaoyan Luo & Jun Shen & Yun Li & Dan Yuan & Ruth Nussinov & Xiangxiang Zeng & Junfeng Shi & Feixiong Cheng, 2024. "A Foundation Model Identifies Broad-Spectrum Antimicrobial Peptides against Drug-Resistant Bacterial Infection," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-15, December.
    2. Mike Sleutel & Brajabandhu Pradhan & Alexander N. Volkov & Han Remaut, 2023. "Structural analysis and architectural principles of the bacterial amyloid curli," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-14, December.
    3. Ying Zhang & Shenqiang Wang & Yinxian Yang & Sheng Zhao & Jiahuan You & Junxia Wang & Jingwei Cai & Hao Wang & Jie Wang & Wei Zhang & Jicheng Yu & Chunmao Han & Yuqi Zhang & Zhen Gu, 2023. "Scarless wound healing programmed by core-shell microneedles," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-13, December.

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