Development of Inhibitors of Biofilm Formation Using Inhibition of Polyamines

2013 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 23658079
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Applied microbiology
• Research Institution: Kyoto Institute of Technology
• Principal Investigator: Suzuki Hideyuki 京都工芸繊維大学, 工芸科学研究科, 教授 (10202136)
• Project Period (FY): 2011 – 2013
• Keywords: ポリアミン / プトレッシン / スペルミジン / 大腸菌 / バイオフィルム / トランスポーター

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We have shown that spermidine is essential for E. coli biofilm formation. In a strain lacking spermidine acetyltransferase, when spermidine was added to the medium, spermidine was not metabolized to acetylspermidine, so that the concentration of spermidine in the cells increased, and the amount of biofilm formed increased accordingly. It was revealed that a strain that could not synthesize spermidine and lacked the spermidine importer PotABCD took up spermidine and became PotFGHI, which was considered to be a spermidine transporter. Furthermore, it was clarified that the presence of PotD protein as well as spermidine is essential for biofilm formation.

Free Research Field

農学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

尿路感染症やカテーテルを介した感染において病原菌がバイオフィルムを形成すると難治性に陥りやすく、バイオフィルム形成を阻害する薬剤は重要である。本研究成果は、バイオフィルム形成を阻害する薬剤開発のターゲットとしてPotDタンパク質が重要であることを明らかにした。