The Role of Exopolysaccharides Psl and Pel in Resistance of to the Oxidative Stressors Sodium Hypochlorite and Hydrogen Peroxide

Overview

Journal Microbiol Spectr

Specialty Microbiology

Date 2024 Aug 28

PMID 39194290

Authors

Waleska S da Cruz Nizer

Kira N Allison

Madison E Adams

Mario A Vargas

Duale Ahmed

Carole Beaulieu

Deepa Raju

Edana Cassol

P Lynne Howell

Joerg Overhage

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Importance: Biofilms are microbial communities of cells embedded in a self-produced polymeric matrix composed of polysaccharides, proteins, lipids, and extracellular DNA. Biofilm bacteria have been shown to possess unique characteristics, including increased stress resistance and higher antimicrobial tolerance, leading to failures in bacterial eradication during chronic infections or in technical settings, including drinking and wastewater industries. Previous studies have shown that in addition to conferring structure and stability to biofilms, the polysaccharides Psl and Pel are also involved in antibiotic resistance. This work provides evidence that these biofilm matrix components also contribute to the resistance of to oxidative stressors including the widely used disinfectant NaOCl. Understanding the mechanisms by which bacteria escape antimicrobial agents, including strong oxidants, is urgently needed in the fight against antimicrobial resistance and will help in developing new strategies to eliminate resistant strains in any environmental, industrial, and clinical setting.

Citing Articles

Activity of Antiseptics Against and Its Adaptation Potential.

Karpinski T, Korbecka-Paczkowska M, Stasiewicz M, Mrozikiewicz A, Wlodkowic D, Cielecka-Piontek J Antibiotics (Basel). 2025; 14(1).

PMID: 39858316 PMC: 11760470. DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics14010030.

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