Int J Curr Pharm Res, Vol 13, Issue 2, 61-63Original Article


BIOFILM FORMATION AND QUORUM SENSING ANALYSIS OF UROPATHOGENIC MULTIDRUG RESISTANCE ESCHERICHIA COLI

MOHANA PRIYA M.1, G. BHUVANESHWARI2

1,2Department of Microbiology, Saveetha Medical College and Hospital, Chennai 602105
Email: manipriyamedmic@gmail.com

Received: 12 Nov 2020, Revised and Accepted: 10 Jan 2021

ABSTRACT

Objective: Escherichia coli (E. coli) are gram-negative facultative anaerobes which are commonly found in the lower intestine. Biofilm production in E. coli promotes colonization and leads to an increase rate of infections, and such infections may be difficult to treat as they exhibit multidrug resistance (MDR).

Methods: 50 strains of uropathogenic E. coli were collected from Clinical Microbiology laboratory at Saveetha medical college and hospital for a time period of 3 mo. Strains were identified by conventional biochemical methods. Biofilm formation and quorum sensing analysis were performed by the Microtitre plate method and Thin Layer Chromatography method (TLC), respectively.

Results: In this study, 46 (92%) of E. coli strains were strong, 3(6%) were intermediate and 1(2%) were weak biofilm producers. From TLC analysis, 34 (68%) of the strains produced Acyl Homoserine Lactone molecules. Out of which, 16 isolates were shown unknown analytes of Retardation factor (Rf) value greater than 1. The Rf values identified were 3 unsubstituted C4 (5), 3 unsubstituted C6 (3), 3 oxo C8 (3), 3 oxo C4 (4), 3 oxo C6 (2), 3 oxo C1 (1).

Conclusion: In this study, 100% of isolates were biofilm producers. Of which 18 strains produced known Acyl Homoserine Lactone molecules and 16 isolates produced unknown analytes. Thus, quorum sensing molecules plays a major role in biofilm formation.

Keywords: Biofilm formation, Quorum sensing, Uropathogenic E. coli, Acyl Homoserine Lactone

© 2021 The Authors. Published by Innovare Academic Sciences Pvt Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.22159/ijcpr.2021v13i2.41549. Journal homepage: https://innovareacademics.in/journals/index.php/ijcpr

INTRODUCTION

E. coli is a type of bacteria that normally lives in the intestine. UTI is a serious health problem with respect to antibiotic resistance and biofilm formation being the prime cause for antibiotic resistance. Antibiotics are commonly used to prevent bacterial infection and diseases for many decades since their discovery at the beginning of the 20th century. However, emerging evidence [1] indicates that traditional antibiotic treatments tend to be ineffective for the patients due to the emergence of drug-resistant pathogens resulting from antibiotics overuse [2, 3].

According to national institutes of health, biofilms are responsible for>60%of all microbial infections [4, 5]; the biofilms produced by E. coli may be difficult to treat as they exhibit multidrug resistance. Biofilm prevalence among uropathogenic. E. coli ranges from 60%-70%. Biofilm formation also increases the risk of recurrent UTI [6]. This can be reduced by appropriate treatment with antibiotics like Fluroquinolone, cephalosporin and aminoglycoside. Quorum sensing is a bacterial cell signaling which allows both gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria to sense one another.

Quorum sensing is done with the help of autoinducers such as acyl homoserine lactone (ahl-1). Acyl synthase (LUX I) is involved in the release of this autoinducer [7].

Biofilm production in Escherichia coli promotes colonization and leads to an increased rate of infections. Such infections may be difficult to treat as they exhibit multidrug resistance (MDR).

The present study is aimed to perform in-vitro detection of biofilm formation and quorum sensing among uropathogenic E. coli strains from urine cultures by Microtitre plate method and Thin Layer Chromatography method (TLC), respectively.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The present study was conducted in the Department of Microbiology at Saveetha medical college, Chennai, India. The ethical clearance has been obtained for the study using conventional methods, a total number of 50 uropathogenic E. coli from the clinical samples were isolated.

Primary inoculation of the samples was done on MacConkey Agar Plate (M. A), Nutrient Agar Plate (N. A) and Blood Agar Plate (B. A). After inoculation, these samples were incubated aerobically at 37 ⁰C for 24 h. Plates showing no growth during the first 24 h were further incubated for the next 24 h. Antibiotic susceptibility test was done by Kirby Bauer disc diffusion method as per CLSI (clinical and laboratory standards institute) guidelines [8]. Multidrug resistance E. coli strains were collected and done biofilm formation by microtitre plate method [9]. Quorum sensing analysis (5, 6) was performed by the thin-layer chromatography method (tlc).

Biofilm formation

Microtitre plate method

Isolates were inoculated in trypticase soy broth and incubated for 24 h at 37 ⁰C then diluted with fresh trypticase soy broth in 1:100 dilution. Tissue culture plate, which is sterile polystyrene 96 well flat bottom is filled with 0.2 ml aliquots of the diluted culture. The broth served as control to check sterility and non-specific binding of media. The microtitre plate was incubated for 24 h at 37 ⁰C. By tapping the plates, the content of each well was gently removed and washed 4 times with 0.2 ml Phosphate buffered saline to remove free-floating planktonic bacteria, Wells were stained with crystal violet. To remove excess stain wells were washed with deionized water and the tubes were dried. [10] Optical density (OD) was determined at a wavelength of 570 nm with micro ELISA auto reader. Experiment was repeated thrice and standard deviation was calculated. The mean OD value obtained from media control was deducted from all the test OD value.

RESULTS

In this study 50 uropathogenic multidrug resistance, E. coli strains were collected and processed using the conventional method. Culture characteristics were analyzed.

Fig. 1: Graphical representation of antibiotic susceptibility pattern

Fig. 2: Biofilm formation

Fig. 3: Graphical representation of quorum sensing

Antibiotic susceptibility test

On analyzing ABST the following resistant patterns were observed:

Amikacin-28%, Ampicillin-100%, Ciprofloxacin-33%, Cefotaxime-66%,Cefuroxime-66%, Piperacillin/Tazobactam-54%, Imipenem-35%, Meropenem-35%. Fig. 1 shows the graphical representation of Antibiotic susceptibility Pattern.

Biofilm formation

Out of 50 uropathogenic multidrug resistance E. coli strains, 46 (92%) strains were strong, 3(6%) were intermediate and 1(2%) was weak biofilm producers. Fig. 2: Shows the biofilm formation.

Thin-layer chromatography method (TLC)

From TLC analysis, 34 (68%) of the strains produced acyl-homoserine lactone molecules. Out of which, 16 isolates were shown unknown analytes of retardation factor (rf) value greater than 1. The rf values identified were 3 unsubstituted C4 (5), 3 unsubstituted C6 (3), 3 oxo C8 (3), 3 oxo C4 (4), 3 oxo C6 (2), 3 oxo C1 (1). Fig.3: shows the graphical representation of quorum sensing fig. 3: Shows the graphical representation of quorum sensing

DISCUSSION

The present study was conducted in the Department Of Microbiology at Saveetha medical college, Chennai, India. The ethical clearance has been obtained for the study using conventional methods, a total number of 50 uropathogenic E. coli from the clinical samples were isolated.

In the present study, antibiotic resistance of biofilm producing E. coli was found to be 100%for Ampicillin, 66% for Cefuroxime and Cefotaxime, 54% for Piperacillin/Tazobactam, 35% for Imipenemand and Meropenem, 28% for Amikacin, 33% for Ciprofloxacin. In another study, antibiotic resistance of biofiom producing E. coli were found to be 100%for chloramphenicol and Amoxyclav (amoxicillin-clavulanic acid), 86% for gentamicin and cefotaxime, 84%for ceftazidime, 83% for cotrimoxazole and Piperacillin/Tazobactam, 75% for tetracucline, 70% for amikacin showed by poovendran ponnusamy et al., [11]

In the persent study, all the 100% E. coli strains were biofilm producers.46(92%) strains were strong, 3(6%) were intermediate and 1(2%) was weak biofilm producers.

Elahe Tajbakhsh et al., showed that 61.53% were able to make biofilm that 15(18.75%) isolates indicated strong reaction, 20(25%) of medium and 45(56.25%) of weak biofilm reaction [12].

Another study which was done by Mittal et al., showed that among 100(60.2%)strains, 72 strains displayed a biofilm positive phenotype and showed 6.6% strains were highly positive, 80.8% were moderate positive and 14.14% were weakly positive [13]. A study conducted by Rohollah Taghadosi et al., [14] shows the biofilm formation assay identified 10 (28.57%) isolates with strong, 16 (45.71%) with moderate, and 9 (25.71%) with weak biofilm activities.

CONCLUSION

Biofilm production makes the organism to be more resistant to antibiotics and virulent as compared to non-biofilm producers. 68% Uropathogenic Escherichia coli produces quorum sensing analytes which in turn can induce other strains to be Multidrug-resistant in the future. This needs effective surveillance and control measures for preventing Healthcare-associated infections in the future.

FUNDING

Nil

AUTHORS CONTRIBUTIONS

All the authors have contributed equally.

CONFLICTS OF INTERESTS

Declared none

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