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Mugnai G, Borruso L, Wu YL, Gallinaro M, Cappitelli F, Zerboni A, Villa F. Ecological strategies of bacterial communities in prehistoric stone wall paintings across weathering gradients: A case study from the Borana zone in southern Ethiopia. Sci Total Environ 2024; 907:168026. [PMID: 37907101 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.168026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2023] [Revised: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 10/20/2023] [Indexed: 11/02/2023]
Abstract
Rock art paintings represent fragile ecosystems supporting complex microbial communities tuned to the lithic substrate and climatic conditions. The composition and activity of these microbial communities associated with different weathering patterns affecting rock art sites remain unexplored. This study aimed to explore how bacterial communities adapt their ecological strategies based on substrate weathering, while also examining the role of their metabolic pathways in either biodeterioration or bioprotection of the underlying stone. SEM-EDS investigations coupled with 16S rRNA gene sequencing and PICRUSt2 analysis were applied on different weathered surfaces that affect southern Ethiopian rock paintings to investigate the relationships between the current stone microbiome and weathering patterns. The findings revealed that samples experiencing low and high weathering reached a climax stage characterized by stable microenvironments and limited resources. This condition favored K-strategist microorganisms, leading to reduced α-biodiversity and a community with a positive or neutral impact on the substrate. In contrast, moderately-weathered samples displayed diverse microhabitats, resulting in the prevalence of r-strategist bacteria, increased α-biodiversity, and the presence of specialist microorganisms. Moreover, the bacterial communities in moderately-weathered samples demonstrated the highest potential for carbon fixation, stress responses, and complete nitrogen and sulfur cycles. This bacterial community also showed the potential to negatively impact the underlying substrate. This research provided valuable insights into the little-understood ecology of bacterial communities inhabiting deteriorated surfaces, shedding light on the potential role of these microorganisms in the sustainable conservation of rock art.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gianmarco Mugnai
- Department of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, Borgo XX Giugno, 74, I-06121 Perugia (PG), IT, Italy.
| | - Luigimaria Borruso
- Free University of Bolzano, Faculty of Agricultural, Environmental and Food Sciences, Piazza Universitá 5, 39100 Bolzano, Italy.
| | - Ying-Li Wu
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra "A. Desio", Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy.
| | - Marina Gallinaro
- Dipartimento di Scienze dell'Antichità, Università di Roma La Sapienza, 00185 Rome, Italy.
| | - Francesca Cappitelli
- Dipartimento di Scienze per gli Alimenti, la Nutrizione e l'Ambiente, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy.
| | - Andrea Zerboni
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra "A. Desio", Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy.
| | - Federica Villa
- Dipartimento di Scienze per gli Alimenti, la Nutrizione e l'Ambiente, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy.
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Ratti A, Fassi EMA, Forlani F, Zangrossi M, Mori M, Cappitelli F, Roda G, Villa S, Villa F, Grazioso G. Unlocking the Antibiofilm Potential of Natural Compounds by Targeting the NADH:quinone Oxidoreductase WrbA. Antioxidants (Basel) 2023; 12:1612. [PMID: 37627607 PMCID: PMC10451263 DOI: 10.3390/antiox12081612] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2023] [Revised: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 08/12/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Biofilm-dwelling cells endure adverse conditions, including oxidative imbalances. The NADH:quinone oxidoreductase enzyme WrbA has a crucial role in the mechanism of action of antibiofilm molecules such as ellagic and salicylic acids. This study aimed to exploit the potential of the WrbA scaffold as a valuable target for identifying antibiofilm compounds at non-lethal concentrations. A three-dimensional computational model, based on the published WrbA structure, was used to screen natural compounds from a virtual library of 800,000 compounds. Fisetin, morin, purpurogallin, NZ028, and NZ034, along with the reference compound ellagic acid, were selected. The antibiofilm effect of the molecules was tested at non-lethal concentrations evaluating the cell-adhesion of wild-type and WrbA-deprived Escherichia coli strains through fluorochrome-based microplate assays. It was shown that, except for NZ028, all of the selected molecules exhibited notable antibiofilm effects. Purpurogallin and NZ034 showed excellent antibiofilm performances at the lowest concentration of 0.5 μM, in line with ellagic acid. The observed loss of activity and the level of reactive oxygen species in the mutant strain, along with the correlation with terms contributing to the ligand-binding free energy on WrbA, strongly indicates the WrbA-dependency of purpurogallin and NZ034. Overall, the molecular target WrbA was successfully employed to identify active compounds at non-lethal concentrations, thus revealing, for the first time, the antibiofilm efficacy of purpurogallin and NZ034.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Ratti
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Milan, Via L. Mangiagalli 25, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Enrico M A Fassi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Milan, Via L. Mangiagalli 25, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Fabio Forlani
- Department of Food Environmental and Nutritional Science (DeFENS), University of Milan, Via Celoria 2, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Maurizio Zangrossi
- Department of Food Environmental and Nutritional Science (DeFENS), University of Milan, Via Celoria 2, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Matteo Mori
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Milan, Via L. Mangiagalli 25, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Francesca Cappitelli
- Department of Food Environmental and Nutritional Science (DeFENS), University of Milan, Via Celoria 2, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Gabriella Roda
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Milan, Via L. Mangiagalli 25, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Stefania Villa
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Milan, Via L. Mangiagalli 25, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Federica Villa
- Department of Food Environmental and Nutritional Science (DeFENS), University of Milan, Via Celoria 2, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Giovanni Grazioso
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Milan, Via L. Mangiagalli 25, 20133 Milan, Italy
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Cattò C, Mu A, Moreau JW, Wang N, Cappitelli F, Strugnell R. Biofilm colonization of stone materials from an Australian outdoor sculpture: Importance of geometry and exposure. J Environ Manage 2023; 339:117948. [PMID: 37080094 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.117948] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2023] [Revised: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 04/12/2023] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
The safeguarding of Australian outdoor stone heritage is currently limited by a lack of information concerning mechanisms responsible for the degradation of the built heritage. In this study, the bacterial community colonizing the stone surface of an outdoor sculpture located at the Church of St. John the Evangelist in Melbourne was analysed, providing an overview of the patterns of microbial composition associated with stone in an anthropogenic context. Illumina MiSeq 16S rRNA gene sequencing together with confocal laser microscope investigations highlighted the bacterial community was composed of both phototrophic and chemotrophic microorganisms characteristic of stone and soil, and typical of arid, salty and urban environments. Cardinal exposure, position and surface geometry were the most important factors in determining the structure of the microbial community. The North-West exposed areas on the top of the sculpture with high light exposure gave back the highest number of sequences and were dominated by Cyanobacteria. The South and West facing in middle and lower parts of the sculpture received significantly lower levels of radiation and were dominated by Actinobacteria. Proteobacteria were observed as widespread on the sculpture. This pioneer research provided an in-depth investigation of the microbial community structure on a deteriorated artistic stone in the Australian continent and provides information for the identification of deterioration-associated microorganisms and/or bacteria beneficial for stone preservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Cattò
- Department of Food Environmental and Nutritional Sciences, Università Degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, At the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
| | - Andre Mu
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, At the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Doherty Applied Microbial Genomics, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, At the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
| | - John W Moreau
- School of Geographical and Earth Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom; School of Geographical, Atmospheric and Earth Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia.
| | - Nancy Wang
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, At the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
| | - Francesca Cappitelli
- Department of Food Environmental and Nutritional Sciences, Università Degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy.
| | - Richard Strugnell
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, At the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
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Ratti A, Fassi EMA, Forlani F, Mori M, Villa F, Cappitelli F, Sgrignani J, Roda G, Cavalli A, Villa S, Grazioso G. Mechanistic Insights into the Antibiofilm Mode of Action of Ellagic Acid. Pharmaceutics 2023; 15:1757. [PMID: 37376205 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15061757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2023] [Revised: 06/09/2023] [Accepted: 06/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Bacterial biofilm is a major contributor to the persistence of infection and the limited efficacy of antibiotics. Antibiofilm molecules that interfere with the biofilm lifestyle offer a valuable tool in fighting bacterial pathogens. Ellagic acid (EA) is a natural polyphenol that has shown attractive antibiofilm properties. However, its precise antibiofilm mode of action remains unknown. Experimental evidence links the NADH:quinone oxidoreductase enzyme WrbA to biofilm formation, stress response, and pathogen virulence. Moreover, WrbA has demonstrated interactions with antibiofilm molecules, suggesting its role in redox and biofilm modulation. This work aims to provide mechanistic insights into the antibiofilm mode of action of EA utilizing computational studies, biophysical measurements, enzyme inhibition studies on WrbA, and biofilm and reactive oxygen species assays exploiting a WrbA-deprived mutant strain of Escherichia coli. Our research efforts led us to propose that the antibiofilm mode of action of EA stems from its ability to perturb the bacterial redox homeostasis driven by WrbA. These findings shed new light on the antibiofilm properties of EA and could lead to the development of more effective treatments for biofilm-related infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Ratti
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmaceutiche, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via L. Mangiagalli 25, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Enrico M A Fassi
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmaceutiche, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via L. Mangiagalli 25, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Fabio Forlani
- Dipartimento di Scienze per gli Alimenti, la Nutrizione e l'Ambiente, Via G. Celoria 2, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Matteo Mori
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmaceutiche, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via L. Mangiagalli 25, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Federica Villa
- Dipartimento di Scienze per gli Alimenti, la Nutrizione e l'Ambiente, Via G. Celoria 2, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Francesca Cappitelli
- Dipartimento di Scienze per gli Alimenti, la Nutrizione e l'Ambiente, Via G. Celoria 2, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Jacopo Sgrignani
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB), Università della Svizzera Italiana (USI), Via Chiesa 5, 6500 Bellinzona, Switzerland
| | - Gabriella Roda
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmaceutiche, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via L. Mangiagalli 25, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Andrea Cavalli
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB), Università della Svizzera Italiana (USI), Via Chiesa 5, 6500 Bellinzona, Switzerland
- Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Stefania Villa
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmaceutiche, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via L. Mangiagalli 25, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Giovanni Grazioso
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmaceutiche, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via L. Mangiagalli 25, 20133 Milano, Italy
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Villa F, Ludwig N, Mazzini S, Scaglioni L, Fuchs AL, Tripet B, Copié V, Stewart PS, Cappitelli F. A desiccated dual-species subaerial biofilm reprograms its metabolism and affects water dynamics in limestone. Sci Total Environ 2023; 868:161666. [PMID: 36669662 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.161666] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2022] [Revised: 01/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/13/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Understanding the impact of sessile communities on underlying materials is of paramount importance in stone conservation. Up until now, the critical role of subaerial biofilms (SABs) whether they are protective or deteriorative remains unclear, especially under desiccation. The interest in desiccated SABs is raised by the prediction of an increase in drought events in the next decades that will affect the Mediterranean regions' rich stone heritage as never before. Thus, the main goal of this research is to study the effects of desiccation on both the biofilms' eco-physiology and its impacts on the lithic substrate. To this end, we used a dual-species model system composed of a phototroph and a chemotroph to simulate biofilm behavior on stone heritage. We found that drought altered the phototroph-chemotroph balance and enriched the biofilm matrix with proteins and DNA. Desiccated SABs underwent a shift in metabolism to fermentation and a decrease in oxidative stress. Additionally, desiccated SABs changed the water-related dynamics (adsorption, evaporation, and wetting properties) in limestone. Water absorption experiments showed that desiccated SABs protected the stone from rapid water uptake, while a thermographic survey indicated a delay in water evaporation. Spilling-drop tests revealed a change in the wettability of the stone-SAB interface, which affected the water transport properties of the stone. Finally, desiccated SABs reduced stone swelling in the presence of water vapor. The biodeteriorative and bioprotective implications of desiccated SABs on the stone were ultimately assessed.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Villa
- Dipartimento di Scienze per gli Alimenti, la Nutrizione e l'Ambiente, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy.
| | - N Ludwig
- Dipartimento di Fisica Aldo Pontremoli, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy.
| | - S Mazzini
- Dipartimento di Scienze per gli Alimenti, la Nutrizione e l'Ambiente, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy.
| | - L Scaglioni
- Dipartimento di Scienze per gli Alimenti, la Nutrizione e l'Ambiente, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy.
| | - A L Fuchs
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, Montana State University, Bozeman, USA
| | - B Tripet
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, Montana State University, Bozeman, USA.
| | - V Copié
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, Montana State University, Bozeman, USA.
| | - P S Stewart
- Center for Biofilm Engineering, Montana State University, Bozeman 59717, USA.
| | - F Cappitelli
- Dipartimento di Scienze per gli Alimenti, la Nutrizione e l'Ambiente, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy.
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Villa F, Wu YL, Zerboni A, Cappitelli F. Corrigendum: In Living Color: Pigment-Based Microbial Ecology At the Mineral-Air Interface. Bioscience 2022; 73:69. [PMID: 36643595 PMCID: PMC9832963 DOI: 10.1093/biosci/biac109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1093/biosci/biac091.].
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7
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Cattò C, Corte L, Roscini L, Cardinali G, Villa F, Cappitelli F. Metabolomic and Proteomic Changes in Candida albicans Biofilm in Response to Zosteric Acid Treatment. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232214067. [PMID: 36430545 PMCID: PMC9697788 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232214067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2022] [Revised: 11/07/2022] [Accepted: 11/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Zosteric acid (ZA) is a secondary metabolite of the seagrass Zostera marina, with antibiofilm activity against fungi. Information concerning its mechanisms of action is lacking and this limits the development of more potent derivatives based on the same target and activity structure. The aim of this work was to investigate the ZA mode of action by analyzing the metabolic status of Candida albicans biofilm and its protein expression profile upon ZA treatment. Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy confirmed that ZA modified the metabolomic response of treated cells, showing changes in the spectral regions, mainly related to the protein compartment. Nano Liquid Chromatography-High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry highlighted that 10 proteins were differentially expressed in the C. albicans proteome upon ZA treatment. Proteins involved in the biogenesis, structure and integrity of cell walls as well as adhesion and stable attachment of hyphae were found downregulated, whereas some proteins involved in the stress response were found overexpressed. Additionally, ZA was involved in the modulation of non-DNA-based epigenetic regulatory mechanisms triggered by reactive oxygen species. These results partially clarified the ZA mechanism of action against fungi and provided insight into the major C. albicans pathways responsible for biofilm formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Cattò
- Department of Food Environmental and Nutritional Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milano, Italy
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-02-503-19121
| | - Laura Corte
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences-Microbiology, Università di Perugia, 06121 Perugia, Italy
| | - Luca Roscini
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences-Microbiology, Università di Perugia, 06121 Perugia, Italy
| | - Gianluigi Cardinali
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences-Microbiology, Università di Perugia, 06121 Perugia, Italy
| | - Federica Villa
- Department of Food Environmental and Nutritional Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Francesca Cappitelli
- Department of Food Environmental and Nutritional Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milano, Italy
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Villa F, Wu YL, Zerboni A, Cappitelli F. In Living Color: Pigment-Based Microbial Ecology At the Mineral-Air Interface. Bioscience 2022; 72:1156-1175. [PMID: 36451971 PMCID: PMC9699719 DOI: 10.1093/biosci/biac091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Pigment-based color is one of the most important phenotypic traits of biofilms at the mineral-air interface (subaerial biofilms, SABs), because it reflects the physiology of the microbial community. Because color is the hallmark of all SABs, we argue that pigment-based color could convey the mechanisms that drive microbial adaptation and coexistence across different terrestrial environments and link phenotypic traits to community fitness and ecological dynamics. Within this framework, we present the most relevant microbial pigments at the mineral-air interface and discuss some of the evolutionary landscapes that necessitate pigments as adaptive strategies for resource allocation and survivability. We report several pigment features that reflect SAB communities' structure and function, as well as pigment ecology in the context of microbial life-history strategies and coexistence theory. Finally, we conclude the study of pigment-based ecology by presenting its potential application and some of the key challenges in the research.
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Cattò C, Parodi V, Chiodelli A, Cappitelli F, Bruni S. Dot blot immunochemical and infrared analyses of the adhesive layer applied to the painting Imago Pietatis by Domenico Morone. ANN MICROBIOL 2022. [DOI: 10.1186/s13213-021-01660-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Purpose
To investigate the nature of the materials used in the adhesive layer of the Imago Pietatis painting (end of the fifteenth century—beginning of the sixteenth century) by Domenico Morone as a prerequisite for its restoration.
Methods
Micro-FTIR spectra of the animal glue and a polished cross-section were acquired by a Jasco IRT3000 spectrometer, equipped with a 32× Cassegrain objective. A dot blot immunoassay was used to characterise a minor component of the adhesive layer.
Results
Micro-FTIR was used as an effective diagnostic tool to detect the major component of the adhesive layer and the binder of the paint. Despite the ageing, the complex matrix and the micro-size of the sample, using a dot blot immunoassay, it was possible to quantify 3.7 ± 2.0 ng of ovalbumin per microgram of sample (corresponding to 0.004 ± 0.002% of the weight).
Conclusions
The findings were in line with conservation practices described in the old treatises, confirming the correct interpretation of the adhesive layer compounds added to the painting and suggesting for the cleaning the use of an anionic water-soluble surfactant highly effective in the removing of proteinaceous materials.
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Cattò C, Villa F, Cappitelli F. Understanding the Role of the Antioxidant Drug Erdosteine and Its Active Metabolite on Staphylococcus aureus Methicillin Resistant Biofilm Formation. Antioxidants (Basel) 2021; 10:antiox10121922. [PMID: 34943025 PMCID: PMC8698571 DOI: 10.3390/antiox10121922] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2021] [Revised: 11/25/2021] [Accepted: 11/26/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Increasing numbers of researches have suggested that some drugs with reactive oxygen species (ROS)-mediated mechanisms of action modulate biofilm formation of some pathogenic strains. However, the full contribution of ROS to biofilm development is still an open question. In this paper, the correlations between the antioxidant drug Erdosteine (Er) and its active Metabolite I (Met I), ROS and biofilm development of two strains of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus are presented. Experiments revealed that Er and Met I at 2 and 5 mg/L increased up to three orders of magnitude the number of biofilm-dwelling cells, while the content of ROS within the biofilms was reduced above the 87%, with a major effect of Met I in comparison to Er. Comparative proteomics showed that, 5 mg/L Met I modified the expression of 30% and 65% of total proteins in the two strains respectively. Some proteins involved in cell replication were upregulated, and a nitric oxide-based mechanism is assumed to modulate the biofilm development by changing quorum sensitive pathways. Additionally, several proteins involved in virulence were downregulated in the presence of Met I, suggesting that treated cells, despite being greater in number, might have lost part of their virulence.
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Savoldelli S, Cattò C, Villa F, Saracchi M, Troiano F, Cortesi P, Cappitelli F. Biological risk assessment in the History and Historical Documentation Library of the University of Milan. Sci Total Environ 2021; 790:148204. [PMID: 34380242 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.148204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2021] [Revised: 05/30/2021] [Accepted: 05/30/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
There are billions of books that in recent and in ancient times have been produced by the human race containing evidence of its intellectual and cultural efforts. Even when stored in libraries, not all these books survive over time undamaged, because in the biosphere their materials are potential nutrients. This is the unfortunate case of the History and Historical Documentation Library of the University of Milan, where biological agents have badly affected rare and valuable old books. An entomological monitoring was carried out using sticky traps and collecting insects during inspections. The beetle Gastrallus pubens Fairmaire, rarely identified in European libraries so far, was the main biological agent responsible for the book damage, since several tunnels due to larval activity and holes made by adults were observed. Using the Illumina MiSeq sequencing technology, Proteobacteria, Firmicutes and Actinobacteria were found to be the most abundant phyla. Ascomycota was the dominant phylum among three fungal phyla. As bacteria and fungi spread by the insects are primary indications of the insect presence in the library, in this paper a potential biomarker able to detect the G. pubens presence before visible infestation was searched for among the bacterial and fungal community peculiar in the insect frass and gut, but also found on books and the surfaces of shelves. Symbiotaphrina, an ascomycete fungus described as one of the symbiotic levuliform fungi, present in the anobiid beetles' gut, was the only one found in all samples analyzed and has therefore been proposed as a putative biomarker.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Savoldelli
- Department of Food, Environmental and Nutritional Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 2, 20133 Milano, Italy.
| | - Cristina Cattò
- Department of Food, Environmental and Nutritional Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 2, 20133 Milano, Italy.
| | - Federica Villa
- Department of Food, Environmental and Nutritional Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 2, 20133 Milano, Italy.
| | - Marco Saracchi
- Department of Food, Environmental and Nutritional Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 2, 20133 Milano, Italy.
| | - Federica Troiano
- Department of Food, Environmental and Nutritional Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 2, 20133 Milano, Italy.
| | - Paolo Cortesi
- Department of Food, Environmental and Nutritional Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 2, 20133 Milano, Italy.
| | - Francesca Cappitelli
- Department of Food, Environmental and Nutritional Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 2, 20133 Milano, Italy.
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Cattò C, Sanmartín P, Gulotta D, Troiano F, Cappitelli F. Bioremoval of graffiti using novel commercial strains of bacteria. Sci Total Environ 2021; 756:144075. [PMID: 33280882 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.144075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2020] [Revised: 11/18/2020] [Accepted: 11/21/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Previous studies have provided evidence that bioremediation deals a novel approach to graffiti removal, thereby overcoming well-known limitations of current cleaning methods. In the present study eight bacteria aerobic, mesophilic and culturable from the American ATCC and the German DSMZ collections of microorganisms, some isolated from car paint waste, colored deposits in a pulp dryer and wastewater from dye works, were tested in the removal of silver and black graffiti spray paints using immersion strategies with glass slides. Absorbance at 600 nm and live/dead assays were performed to estimate bacterial density and activity in all samples. Also, pH and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and inorganic carbon (DIC) measurements in the liquid media were made, as well as, thickness, colorimetric and infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy measurements in graffiti paint layers were used to evaluate the presence of the selected bacteria in the samples and the graffiti bioremoval capacity of bacteria. Data demonstrated that of the eight bacteria studied, Enterobacter aerogenes, Comamonas sp. and a mixture of Bacillus sp., Delftia lacustris, Sphingobacterium caeni, and Ochrobactrum anthropi were the most promising for bioremoval of graffiti. According to significant changes in FTIR spectra, indicating an alteration of the paint polymeric structure, coupled with the presence of a consistent quantity of live bacteria in the medium as well as a significant increase of DIC (a measure of metabolic activity) and a change in paint color.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Cattò
- Department of Food, Environmental and Nutritional Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 2, 20133 Milano, Italy.
| | - Patricia Sanmartín
- Department of Food, Environmental and Nutritional Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 2, 20133 Milano, Italy; Departamento de Edafoloxía e Química Agrícola, Facultade de Farmacia, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
| | - Davide Gulotta
- Getty Conservation Institute, Science Department, 1200 Getty Center Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90049, USA.
| | - Federica Troiano
- Department of Food, Environmental and Nutritional Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 2, 20133 Milano, Italy.
| | - Francesca Cappitelli
- Department of Food, Environmental and Nutritional Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 2, 20133 Milano, Italy.
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Villa F, Secundo F, Forlani F, Cattò C, Cappitelli F. Biochemical and molecular changes of the zosteric acid-treated Escherichia coli biofilm on a mineral surface. ANN MICROBIOL 2021. [DOI: 10.1186/s13213-020-01617-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Purpose
The main goal of the present work was to assess the effectiveness of zosteric acid (ZA) in hindering Escherichia coli biofilm formation on a mineral surface.
Methods
Attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) flow system was used to probe in situ the biochemical changes induced by ZA on E. coli sessile cells growing on the zinc selenide ATR plate. Comparative proteome analysis was conducted on the sessile cells to better understand the principal molecular changes that occur on ZA-treated biofilms.
Results
The ZA treatment modified the kinetics of the biofilm development. After the ZA exposure, dramatic changes in the carbohydrates, proteins, and DNA profiles were observed over time in the ATR-FTIR spectra. These results were translated into the physiological effects such as the reduction of both the biomass and the EPS contents, the inhibition of the biofilm growth, and the promotion of the detachment. In E. coli sessile cells, the comparative proteome analysis revealed that, while the stress responses were upregulated, the pathways belonging to the DNA replication and repair were downregulated in the ZA-treated biofilms.
Conclusions
The ZA reduced the binding capability of E. coli cells onto the ZnSe crystal, hindering the firm adhesion and the subsequent biofilm development on a mineral surface. The variation of the protein patterns indicated that the ZA acted as a stress factor on the sessile cells that seemed to discourage biomass proliferation, consequently decreasing the surface colonization.
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Mugnai G, Borruso L, Mimmo T, Cesco S, Luongo V, Frunzo L, Fabbricino M, Pirozzi F, Cappitelli F, Villa F. Dynamics of bacterial communities and substrate conversion during olive-mill waste dark fermentation: Prediction of the metabolic routes for hydrogen production. Bioresour Technol 2021; 319:124157. [PMID: 32987280 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2020.124157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2020] [Revised: 09/16/2020] [Accepted: 09/17/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The aim of this work was to study the biological catalysts and possible substrate conversion routes in mesophilic dark fermentation reactors aimed at producing H2 from olive mill wastewater. Bacillus and Clostridium were the most abundant phylotypes during the rapid stage of H2 production. Chemical analyses combined with predictive functional profiling of the bacterial communities indicated that the lactate fermentation was the main H2-producing route. In fact, during the fermentation process, lactate and acetate were consumed, while H2 and butyrate were being produced. The fermentation process was rich in genes that encode enzymes for lactate generation from pyruvate. Lactate conversion to butyrate through the generation of pyruvate produced H2 through the recycling of electron carriers via the pyruvate ferredoxin oxydoreductase pathway. Overall, these findings showed the synergy among lactate-, acetate- and H2-producing bacteria, which complex interactions determine the H2 production routes in the bioreactors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gianmarco Mugnai
- Department of Food, Environmental and Nutritional Sciences, University of Milan, via Celoria 2, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Luigimaria Borruso
- Faculty of Science and Technology, Free University of Bolzano, Piazza Università 5, 39100 Bolzano, Italy
| | - Tanja Mimmo
- Faculty of Science and Technology, Free University of Bolzano, Piazza Università 5, 39100 Bolzano, Italy
| | - Stefano Cesco
- Faculty of Science and Technology, Free University of Bolzano, Piazza Università 5, 39100 Bolzano, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Luongo
- Department of Mathematics and Applications "Renato Caccioppoli", University of Naples "Federico II", via Cintia, Monte S. Angelo, 80126 Naples, Italy
| | - Luigi Frunzo
- Department of Mathematics and Applications "Renato Caccioppoli", University of Naples "Federico II", via Cintia, Monte S. Angelo, 80126 Naples, Italy
| | - Massimiliano Fabbricino
- Department of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering, University of Naples "Federico II", via Claudio 21, 80125 Naples, Italy
| | - Francesco Pirozzi
- Department of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering, University of Naples "Federico II", via Claudio 21, 80125 Naples, Italy
| | - Francesca Cappitelli
- Department of Food, Environmental and Nutritional Sciences, University of Milan, via Celoria 2, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Federica Villa
- Department of Food, Environmental and Nutritional Sciences, University of Milan, via Celoria 2, 20133 Milan, Italy.
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Cattò C, De Vincenti L, Cappitelli F, D’Attoma G, Saponari M, Villa F, Forlani F. Non-Lethal Effects of N-Acetylcysteine on Xylella fastidiosa Strain De Donno Biofilm Formation and Detachment. Microorganisms 2019; 7:E656. [PMID: 31817370 PMCID: PMC6955915 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms7120656] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2019] [Revised: 11/28/2019] [Accepted: 12/03/2019] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
This study investigated in-vitro the non-lethal effects of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) on Xylella fastidiosa subspecies pauca strain De Donno (Xf-DD) biofilm. This strain was isolated from the olive trees affected by the olive quick decline syndrome in southern Italy. Xf-DD was first exposed to non-lethal concentrations of NAC from 0.05 to 1000 µM. Cell surface adhesion was dramatically reduced at 500 µM NAC (-47%), hence, this concentration was selected for investigating the effects of pre-, post- and co-treatments on biofilm physiology and structural development, oxidative homeostasis, and biofilm detachment. Even though 500 µM NAC reduced bacterial attachment to surfaces, compared to the control samples, it promoted Xf-DD biofilm formation by increasing: (i) biofilm biomass by up to 78% in the co-treatment, (ii) matrix polysaccharides production by up to 72% in the pre-treatment, and (iii) reactive oxygen species levels by 3.5-fold in the co-treatment. Xf-DD biofilm detachment without and with NAC was also investigated. The NAC treatment did not increase biofilm detachment, compared to the control samples. All these findings suggested that, at 500 µM, NAC diversified the phenotypes in Xf-DD biofilm, promoting biofilm formation (hyper-biofilm-forming phenotype) and discouraging biofilm detachment (hyper-attachment phenotype), while increasing oxidative stress level in the biofilm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Cattò
- Department of Food, Environmental and Nutritional Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, via Celoria 2, 20133 Milano, Italy; (C.C.); (L.D.V.); (F.C.); (F.F.)
| | - Luca De Vincenti
- Department of Food, Environmental and Nutritional Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, via Celoria 2, 20133 Milano, Italy; (C.C.); (L.D.V.); (F.C.); (F.F.)
| | - Francesca Cappitelli
- Department of Food, Environmental and Nutritional Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, via Celoria 2, 20133 Milano, Italy; (C.C.); (L.D.V.); (F.C.); (F.F.)
| | - Giusy D’Attoma
- Institute for Sustainable Plant Protection, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, via Amendola 165/A, 70126 Bari, Italy (M.S.)
| | - Maria Saponari
- Institute for Sustainable Plant Protection, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, via Amendola 165/A, 70126 Bari, Italy (M.S.)
| | - Federica Villa
- Department of Food, Environmental and Nutritional Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, via Celoria 2, 20133 Milano, Italy; (C.C.); (L.D.V.); (F.C.); (F.F.)
| | - Fabio Forlani
- Department of Food, Environmental and Nutritional Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, via Celoria 2, 20133 Milano, Italy; (C.C.); (L.D.V.); (F.C.); (F.F.)
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Domingo G, Villa F, Vannini C, Garuglieri E, Onelli E, Bracale M, Cappitelli F. Label-Free Proteomic Approach to Study the Non-lethal Effects of Silver Nanoparticles on a Gut Bacterium. Front Microbiol 2019; 10:2709. [PMID: 31866956 PMCID: PMC6906586 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.02709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2019] [Accepted: 11/08/2019] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Among all the food-related nanoparticles consumed every day, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have become one of the most commonly utilized because of their antimicrobial properties. Despite their common use, the effects of sublethal concentrations of AgNPs, especially on gut biofilms, have been poorly investigated. To address this issue, we investigated in vitro the proteomic response of a monospecies Escherichia coli gut biofilm to chronic and acute exposures in sublethal concentrations of AgNPs. We used a new gel- and label-free proteomic approach based on shotgun nanoflow liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. This approach allows a quantification of the whole proteome at a dynamic range that is higher than the traditional proteomic investigation. To assess all different possible exposure scenarios, we compared the biofilm proteome of four treatments: (i) untreated cells for the control treatment, (ii) cells treated with 1 μg/ml AgNPs for 24 h for the acute treatment, (iii) cells grown with 1 μg/ml AgNPs for 96 h for the chronic treatment, and (iv) cells grown in the presence of 1 μg/ml AgNPs for 72 h and then further treated for 24 h with 10 μg/ml AgNPs for the chronic + acute treatment. Among the 1,917 proteins identified, 212 were significantly differentially expressed proteins. Several pathways were altered including biofilm formation, bacterial adhesion, stress response to reactive oxygen species, and glucose utilization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guido Domingo
- Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, Università degli Studi dell'Insubria, Varese, Italy
| | - Federica Villa
- Department of Food, Environmental and Nutritional Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Candida Vannini
- Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, Università degli Studi dell'Insubria, Varese, Italy
| | - Elisa Garuglieri
- Department of Food, Environmental and Nutritional Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Onelli
- Department of Biosciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Marcella Bracale
- Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, Università degli Studi dell'Insubria, Varese, Italy
| | - Francesca Cappitelli
- Department of Food, Environmental and Nutritional Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
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Villa F, Cappitelli F. The Ecology of Subaerial Biofilms in Dry and Inhospitable Terrestrial Environments. Microorganisms 2019; 7:microorganisms7100380. [PMID: 31547498 PMCID: PMC6843906 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms7100380] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2019] [Revised: 09/17/2019] [Accepted: 09/20/2019] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The ecological relationship between minerals and microorganisms arguably represents one of the most important associations in dry terrestrial environments, since it strongly influences major biochemical cycles and regulates the productivity and stability of the Earth’s food webs. Despite being inhospitable ecosystems, mineral substrata exposed to air harbor form complex and self-sustaining communities called subaerial biofilms (SABs). Using life on air-exposed minerals as a model and taking inspiration from the mechanisms of some microorganisms that have adapted to inhospitable conditions, we illustrate the ecology of SABs inhabiting natural and built environments. Finally, we advocate the need for the convergence between the experimental and theoretical approaches that might be used to characterize and simulate the development of SABs on mineral substrates and SABs’ broader impacts on the dry terrestrial environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federica Villa
- Department of Food, Environmental and Nutritional Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 2, 20133 Milano, Italy.
| | - Francesca Cappitelli
- Department of Food, Environmental and Nutritional Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 2, 20133 Milano, Italy.
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Cattò C, de Vincenti L, Borgonovo G, Bassoli A, Marai S, Villa F, Cappitelli F, Saracchi M. Sub-lethal concentrations of Perilla frutescens essential oils affect phytopathogenic fungal biofilms. J Environ Manage 2019; 245:264-272. [PMID: 31158678 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2019.05.096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2018] [Revised: 01/07/2019] [Accepted: 05/23/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
The lack of deep knowledge of plant pathogenic fungal biofilms is reflected in the few existing environmental-friendly options for controlling fungal plant disease. Indeed, chemical fungicides still dominate the market but present-day concerns about their real efficacy, increasing awareness of the risk they pose to human health and the environment, and the incidence of fungicide resistance have all led to the current trend of near zero-market-tolerance for pesticide residues in fruit and vegetables. Here, essential oils (PK and PK-IK) from the edible leaves of two cultivars of Perilla frutescens are proposed as new, effective, non-toxic, eco-friendly pesticide-free options suitable for a preventive or integrative approach for sustainable crop protection and product preservation. PK and PK-IK were extracted and characterized, and their ability to affect the biofilm formation of the phytopathogenic model fungi Colletotrichum musae, Fusarium dimerum and Fusarium oxysporum was studied at non-lethal doses. Both essential oils at 1000 and 2000 mg l-1 showed excellent anti-biofilm performance: i) reducing conidia adhesion up to 80.3 ± 16.2%; ii) inhibiting conidia germination up to 100.0 ± 0.0%; iii) affecting biofilm structural development, with a reduction in dry weight of up to 100.0 ± 0.0% and extracellular polysaccharides and proteins up to 81.4 ± 8.0% and 51.0 ± 6.1% respectively. In all cases PK-IK showed better activity than PK.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Cattò
- Department of Food, Environmental and Nutritional Sciences, University of Milan, Via Celoria 2, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Luca de Vincenti
- Department of Food, Environmental and Nutritional Sciences, University of Milan, Via Celoria 2, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Gigliola Borgonovo
- Department of Food, Environmental and Nutritional Sciences, University of Milan, Via Celoria 2, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Angela Bassoli
- Department of Food, Environmental and Nutritional Sciences, University of Milan, Via Celoria 2, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Simone Marai
- Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences - Production, Landscape, Agroenergy, University of Milan, Via Celoria 2, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Federica Villa
- Department of Food, Environmental and Nutritional Sciences, University of Milan, Via Celoria 2, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Francesca Cappitelli
- Department of Food, Environmental and Nutritional Sciences, University of Milan, Via Celoria 2, 20133 Milano, Italy.
| | - Marco Saracchi
- Department of Food, Environmental and Nutritional Sciences, University of Milan, Via Celoria 2, 20133 Milano, Italy
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Abstract
Present day awareness of biofilm colonization on polymeric surfaces has prompted the scientific community to develop an ever-increasing number of new materials with anti-biofilm features. However, compared to the large amount of work put into discovering potent biofilm inhibitors, only a small number of papers deal with their validation, a critical step in the translation of research into practical applications. This is due to the lack of standardized testing methods and/or of well-controlled in vivo studies that show biofilm prevention on polymeric surfaces; furthermore, there has been little correlation with the reduced incidence of material deterioration. Here an overview of the most common methods for studying biofilms and for testing the anti-biofilm properties of new surfaces is provided.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Cattò
- Department of Food Environmental and Nutritional Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, via Celoria 2, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Francesca Cappitelli
- Department of Food Environmental and Nutritional Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, via Celoria 2, 20133 Milano, Italy.
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Gambino M, Sanmartín P, Longoni M, Villa F, Mitchell R, Cappitelli F. Surface colour: An overlooked aspect in the study of cyanobacterial biofilm formation. Sci Total Environ 2019; 659:342-353. [PMID: 30599353 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.12.358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2018] [Revised: 12/23/2018] [Accepted: 12/23/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Cyanobacteria can grow as biofilms, communities that colonize surfaces and that play a fundamental role in the ecology of many diverse habitats and in the conversion of industrial production to green platforms. Although biofilm growth is known to be significantly affected by several characteristics, the effect of colour surface is an overlooked aspect that has not yet been investigated. In this study, we describe the effect of colour hues (white, red, blue and black) on the growth of cyanobacterial biofilms on air-exposed substrates. We measured growth, architecture, pigment production and levels of ATP and reactive oxygen species in cyanobacterial biofilms formed on different coloured substrates. The study findings demonstrate, for the first time, that the colour of a surface affects biofilm formation at the air-solid interface (with more biomass accumulating on white and red substrates than on blue and black substrates) and also alters the biofilm architecture. In addition, the roles of chromatic adaptation, phototrophic cells and reactive oxygen species as intermediates between colour sensing and biofilm response are discussed. Our results support the importance of colour as a new factor that favours surface colonization by cyanobacteria and its contribution to biofilm formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michela Gambino
- Dipartimento di Scienze per gli Alimenti, la Nutrizione e l'Ambiente (DeFENS), Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 2, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Patricia Sanmartín
- Dipartimento di Scienze per gli Alimenti, la Nutrizione e l'Ambiente (DeFENS), Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 2, 20133 Milano, Italy; Departamento de Edafoloxía e Química Agrícola, Facultade de Farmacia, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
| | - Martina Longoni
- Dipartimento di Scienze per gli Alimenti, la Nutrizione e l'Ambiente (DeFENS), Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 2, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Federica Villa
- Dipartimento di Scienze per gli Alimenti, la Nutrizione e l'Ambiente (DeFENS), Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 2, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Ralph Mitchell
- Laboratory of Applied Microbiology, School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, 58 Oxford St., Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Francesca Cappitelli
- Dipartimento di Scienze per gli Alimenti, la Nutrizione e l'Ambiente (DeFENS), Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 2, 20133 Milano, Italy
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Cattò C, Garuglieri E, Borruso L, Erba D, Casiraghi MC, Cappitelli F, Villa F, Zecchin S, Zanchi R. Impacts of dietary silver nanoparticles and probiotic administration on the microbiota of an in-vitro gut model. Environ Pollut 2019; 245:754-763. [PMID: 30500755 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2018.11.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2018] [Revised: 10/05/2018] [Accepted: 11/05/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Ingestion of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) is inevitable linked to their widespread use in food, medicines and other consumer products. However, their effects on human microbiota at non-lethal concentrations remain poorly understood. In this study, the interactions among 1 μg mL-1 AgNPs, the intestinal microbiota, and the probiotic Bacillus subtilis (BS) were tested using in-vitro batch fermentation models inoculated with human fecal matter. Results from metagenomic investigations revealed that the core bacterial community was not affected by the exposure of AgNPs and BS at the later stage of fermentation, while the proportions of rare species changed drastically with the treatments. Furthermore, shifts in the Firmicutes/Bacteriodetes (F/B) ratios were observed after 24 h with an increase in the relative abundance of Firmicutes species and a decrease in Bacteroidetes in all fermentation cultures. The co-exposure to AgNPs and BS led to the lowest F/B ratio. Fluorescent in-situ hybridization analyses indicated that non-lethal concentration of AgNPs negatively affected the relative percentage of Faecalibacterium prausnitzii and Clostridium coccoides/Eubacterium rectales taxa in the fermentation cultures after 24 h. However, exposure to single and combined treatments of AgNPs and BS did not change the overall diversity of the fecal microflora. Functional differences in cell motility, translation, transport, and xenobiotics degradation occurred in AgNPs-treated fermentation cultures but not in AgNPs+BS-treated samples. Compared to the control samples, treated fecal cultures showed no significant statistical differences in terms of short-chain fatty acids profiles, cytotoxic and genotoxic effects on Caco-2 cell monolayers. Overall, AgNPs did not affect the composition and diversity of the core fecal microflora and its metabolic and toxic profiles. This work indicated a chemopreventive role of probiotic on fecal microflora against AgNPs, which were shown by the decrease of F/B ratio and the unaltered state of some key metabolic pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Cattò
- Department of Food Environmental and Nutritional Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, via Celoria 2, 20133, Milano, Italy
| | - Elisa Garuglieri
- Department of Food Environmental and Nutritional Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, via Celoria 2, 20133, Milano, Italy
| | - Luigimaria Borruso
- Faculty of Science and Technology, Free University of Bozen, piazza Università 5, 39100, Bolzano, Italy
| | - Daniela Erba
- Department of Food Environmental and Nutritional Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, via Celoria 2, 20133, Milano, Italy
| | - Maria Cristina Casiraghi
- Department of Food Environmental and Nutritional Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, via Celoria 2, 20133, Milano, Italy
| | - Francesca Cappitelli
- Department of Food Environmental and Nutritional Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, via Celoria 2, 20133, Milano, Italy
| | - Federica Villa
- Department of Food Environmental and Nutritional Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, via Celoria 2, 20133, Milano, Italy.
| | - Sarah Zecchin
- Department of Food Environmental and Nutritional Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, via Celoria 2, 20133, Milano, Italy
| | - Raffaella Zanchi
- Department of Food Environmental and Nutritional Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, via Celoria 2, 20133, Milano, Italy
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Cattò C, Secundo F, James G, Villa F, Cappitelli F. α-Chymotrypsin Immobilized on a Low-Density Polyethylene Surface Successfully Weakens Escherichia coli Biofilm Formation. Int J Mol Sci 2018; 19:E4003. [PMID: 30545074 PMCID: PMC6321288 DOI: 10.3390/ijms19124003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2018] [Revised: 11/23/2018] [Accepted: 12/10/2018] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The protease α-chymotrypsin (α-CT) was covalently immobilized on a low-density polyethylene (LDPE) surface, providing a new non-leaching material (LDPE-α-CT) able to preserve surfaces from biofilm growth over a long working timescale. The immobilized enzyme showed a transesterification activity of 1.24 nmol/h, confirming that the immobilization protocol did not negatively affect α-CT activity. Plate count viability assays, as well as confocal laser scanner microscopy (CLSM) analysis, showed that LDPE-α-CT significantly impacts Escherichia coli biofilm formation by (i) reducing the number of adhered cells (-70.7 ± 5.0%); (ii) significantly affecting biofilm thickness (-81.8 ± 16.7%), roughness (-13.8 ± 2.8%), substratum coverage (-63.1 ± 1.8%), and surface to bio-volume ratio (+7.1 ± 0.2-fold); and (iii) decreasing the matrix polysaccharide bio-volume (80.2 ± 23.2%). Additionally, CLSM images showed a destabilized biofilm with many cells dispersing from it. Notably, biofilm stained for live and dead cells confirmed that the reduction in the biomass was achieved by a mechanism that did not affect bacterial viability, reducing the chances for the evolution of resistant strains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Cattò
- Department of Food, Environmental and Nutritional Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano 20133, Italy.
| | - Francesco Secundo
- Institute of Chemistry of Molecular Recognition, National Research Council, Milano 20131, Italy.
| | - Garth James
- Center for Biofilm Engineering, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717, USA.
| | - Federica Villa
- Department of Food, Environmental and Nutritional Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano 20133, Italy.
| | - Francesca Cappitelli
- Department of Food, Environmental and Nutritional Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano 20133, Italy.
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Gulotta D, Villa F, Cappitelli F, Toniolo L. Biofilm colonization of metamorphic lithotypes of a renaissance cathedral exposed to urban atmosphere. Sci Total Environ 2018; 639:1480-1490. [PMID: 29929311 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.05.277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2018] [Revised: 05/21/2018] [Accepted: 05/23/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Stone architectural heritage exposed outdoor represents a challenging habitat for biological growths; nevertheless, biocolonization on heritage structure is ubiquitous and represents a major mechanism of alteration. However, the identification of specific microorganisms with known reactivity towards the stone substrate does not necessarily imply that a biodeterioration process is in progress and, in specific conditions, bioprotection effects have been highlighted as a result of colonization. The main objective of the present research is to evaluate the biofilm formation on different lithotypes exposed to similar environmental polluted conditions, and to investigate whether the presence of subaerial biofilms can be associated to an increased magnitude of deterioration of the colonized surfaces with respect to the not colonized ones. In particular, the research examines the extensive biological colonization of the stone surfaces of the façade of the Cathedral of Monza (Italy). Four metamorphic stones widely used in the façade and showing rather different compositional, mineralogical and microstructural features were studied. The state of conservation of the stones was characterized under the mineralogical and compositional point of view by X-ray diffraction and Fourier Transformed infrared analysis. The microstructure of colonized substrates and of reference not colonized ones was studied by means of optical and electron microscopy, to comparatively evaluate the damage extent and weathering patterns in both conservative conditions. The structure and the architecture of biofilms growing on different lithic surfaces were investigated by CLSM in both fluorescence and reflection modes. Captured images were analyzed for 3D reconstructions of biofilm samples. The biovolumes were also calculated to estimate the total biomass. The results indicate that the four lithotypes showed different colonization extents. However, even in presence of extensive biological growth, chemical-physical deterioration mechanisms caused by environmental exposure were largely responsible for deterioration. A relationship between compositional and surface morphological features and biocolonization was also observed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Davide Gulotta
- Department of Chemistry, Materials and Chemical Engineering "Giulio Natta", Politecnico di Milano and INSTM, Italy.
| | - Federica Villa
- Department of Food, Environmental and Nutrition Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy.
| | - Francesca Cappitelli
- Department of Food, Environmental and Nutrition Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy.
| | - Lucia Toniolo
- Department of Chemistry, Materials and Chemical Engineering "Giulio Natta", Politecnico di Milano, Italy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Cattò
- Department of Food Environmental and Nutritional Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Federica Villa
- Department of Food Environmental and Nutritional Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Francesca Cappitelli
- Department of Food Environmental and Nutritional Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy
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De Vincenti L, Glasenapp Y, Cattò C, Villa F, Cappitelli F, Papenbrock J. Hindering the formation and promoting the dispersion of medical biofilms: non-lethal effects of seagrass extracts. BMC Complement Altern Med 2018; 18:168. [PMID: 29843708 PMCID: PMC5975390 DOI: 10.1186/s12906-018-2232-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2017] [Accepted: 05/15/2018] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Biofilms have great significance in healthcare-associated infections owing to their inherent tolerance and resistance to antimicrobial therapies. New approaches to prevent and treat unwanted biofilms are urgently required. To this end, three seagrass species (Enhalus acoroides, Halophila ovalis and Halodule pinifolia) collected in Vietnam and in India were investigated for their effects in mediating non-lethal interactions on sessile bacterial (Escherichia coli) and fungal (Candida albicans) cultures. The present study was focused on anti-biofilm activities of seagrass extracts, without killing cells. METHODS Methanolic extracts were characterized, and major compounds were identified by MS/MS analysis. The antibiofilm properties of the seagrass extracts were tested at sub-lethal concentrations by using microtiter plate adhesion assay. The performance of the most promising extract was further investigated in elegant bioreactors to reproduce mature biofilms both at the solid/liquid and the solid/air interfaces. Dispersion and bioluminescent assays were carried out to decipher the mode of action of the bioactive extract. RESULTS It was shown that up to 100 ppm of crude extracts did not adversely affect microbial growth, nor do they act as a carbon and energy source for the selected microorganisms. Seagrass extracts appear to be more effective in deterring microbial adhesion on hydrophobic surfaces than on hydrophilic. The results revealed that non-lethal concentrations of E. acoroides leaf extract: i) reduce bacterial and fungal coverage by 60.9 and 73.9%, respectively; ii) affect bacterial biofilm maturation and promote dispersion, up to 70%, in fungal biofilm; iii) increase luminescence in Vibrio harveyi by 25.8%. The characterization of methanolic extracts showed the unique profile of the E. acoroides leaf extract. CONCLUSIONS E. acoroides leaf extract proved to be the most promising extract among those tested. Indeed, the selected non-lethal concentrations of E. acoroides leaf extract were found to exert an antibiofilm effect on C. albicans and E. coli biofilm in the first phase of biofilm genesis, opening up the possibility of developing preventive strategies to hinder the adhesion of microbial cells to surfaces. The leaf extract also affected the dispersion and maturation steps in C. albicans and E. coli respectively, suggesting an important role in cell signaling processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca De Vincenti
- Dipartimento di Scienze per gli Alimenti, la Nutrizione e l’Ambiente, Università degli Studi di Milano, via Celoria 2, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Yvana Glasenapp
- Institute of Botany, Leibniz University Hannover, Herrenhäuserstr. 2, D-30419 Hannover, Germany
| | - Cristina Cattò
- Dipartimento di Scienze per gli Alimenti, la Nutrizione e l’Ambiente, Università degli Studi di Milano, via Celoria 2, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Federica Villa
- Dipartimento di Scienze per gli Alimenti, la Nutrizione e l’Ambiente, Università degli Studi di Milano, via Celoria 2, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Francesca Cappitelli
- Dipartimento di Scienze per gli Alimenti, la Nutrizione e l’Ambiente, Università degli Studi di Milano, via Celoria 2, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Jutta Papenbrock
- Institute of Botany, Leibniz University Hannover, Herrenhäuserstr. 2, D-30419 Hannover, Germany
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Cattò C, James G, Villa F, Villa S, Cappitelli F. Zosteric acid and salicylic acid bound to a low density polyethylene surface successfully control bacterial biofilm formation. Biofouling 2018; 34:440-452. [PMID: 29726716 DOI: 10.1080/08927014.2018.1462342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2018] [Accepted: 03/27/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
The active moieties of the anti-biofilm natural compounds zosteric (ZA) and salicylic (SA) acids have been covalently immobilized on a low density polyethylene (LDPE) surface. The grafting procedure provided new non-toxic eco-friendly materials (LDPE-CA and LDPE-SA) with anti-biofilm properties superior to the conventional biocide-based approaches and with features suitable for applications in challenging fields where the use of antimicrobial agents is limited. Microbiological investigation proved that LDPE-CA and LDPE-SA: (1) reduced Escherichia coli biofilm biomass by up to 61% with a mechanism that did not affect bacterial viability; (2) significantly affected biofilm morphology, decreasing biofilm thickness, roughness, substratum coverage, cell and matrix polysaccharide bio-volumes by >80% and increasing the surface to bio-volume ratio; (3) made the biofilm more susceptible to ampicillin and ethanol. Since no molecules were leached from the surface, they remained constantly effective and below the lethal level; therefore, the risk of inducing resistance was minimized.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Cattò
- a Department of Food Environmental and Nutritional Sciences , Università degli Studi di Milano , Milan , Italy
- b Center for Biofilm Engineering , Montana State University , Bozeman , MT , USA
| | - G James
- b Center for Biofilm Engineering , Montana State University , Bozeman , MT , USA
| | - F Villa
- a Department of Food Environmental and Nutritional Sciences , Università degli Studi di Milano , Milan , Italy
| | - S Villa
- c Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences , Università degli Studi di Milano , Milan , Italy
| | - F Cappitelli
- a Department of Food Environmental and Nutritional Sciences , Università degli Studi di Milano , Milan , Italy
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Garuglieri E, Meroni E, Cattò C, Villa F, Cappitelli F, Erba D. Effects of Sub-lethal Concentrations of Silver Nanoparticles on a Simulated Intestinal Prokaryotic-Eukaryotic Interface. Front Microbiol 2018; 8:2698. [PMID: 29379489 PMCID: PMC5775227 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2017.02698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2017] [Accepted: 12/26/2017] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Nanotechnology applications are expected to bring a range of benefits to the food sector, aiming to provide better quality and conservation. In this research, the physiological response of both an Escherichia coli mono-species biofilm and Caco-2 intestinal cells to sub-lethal concentrations of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) has been investigated. In order to simulate the anaerobic and aerobic compartments required for bacteria and intestinal cells growth, a simplified semi-batch model based on a transwell permeable support was developed. Interaction between the two compartments was obtained by exposing Caco-2 intestinal cells to the metabolites secreted by E. coli biofilm after its exposure to AgNPs. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first to investigate the effect of AgNPs on Caco-2 cells that takes into consideration previous AgNP-intestinal biofilm interactions, and at concentrations mimicking real human exposure. Our data show that 1 μg/mL AgNPs in anaerobic conditions (i) promote biofilm formation up to 2.3 ± 0.3 fold in the first 72 h of treatment; (ii) increase reactive oxygen species (ROS) production to 84 ± 21% and change the physiological status of microbial cells after 96 h of treatment; (iii) seriously affect a 72-h old established biofilm, increasing the level of oxidative stress to 86 ± 21%. Moreover, the results indicate that oxygen renders the biofilm more adequate to counteract AgNP effects. Comet assays on Caco-2 cells demonstrated a protective role of biofilm against the genotoxic effect of 1 μg/mL AgNPs on intestinal epithelial cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Garuglieri
- Department of Food, Environmental and Nutritional Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Erika Meroni
- Department of Food, Environmental and Nutritional Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Cristina Cattò
- Department of Food, Environmental and Nutritional Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Federica Villa
- Department of Food, Environmental and Nutritional Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Francesca Cappitelli
- Department of Food, Environmental and Nutritional Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Daniela Erba
- Department of Food, Environmental and Nutritional Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
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Dell'orto S, Cattò C, Villa F, Forlani F, Vassallo E, Morra M, Cappitelli F, Villa S, Gelain A. Low density polyethylene functionalized with antibiofilm compounds inhibits Escherichia coli cell adhesion. J Biomed Mater Res A 2017; 105:3251-3261. [PMID: 28795783 DOI: 10.1002/jbm.a.36183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2017] [Revised: 06/29/2017] [Accepted: 08/01/2017] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
The present work concerns an efficient strategy to obtain novel medical devices materials able to inhibit biofilm formation. The new materials were achieved by covalent grafting of p-aminocinnamic or p-aminosalicylic acids on low density polyethylene coupons. The polyethylene surface, previously activated by oxygen plasma treatment, was functionalized using 2-hydroxymethylmetacrylate as linker. The latter was reacted with succinic anhydride affording the carboxylic end useful for the immobilization of the antibiofilm molecules. The modified surface was characterized by scanning electron microscope, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared and fluorescence analyses. The antibiofilm activity of the modified materials were tested against Escherichia coli biofilm grown in the Center of Disease Control biofilm reactor. The results revealed that the grafted cinnamic and salicylic acid derivatives reduced biofilm biomass, in comparison with the control, by 73.7 ± 10.7% and 63.4 ± 7.1%, respectively. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 105A: 3251-3261, 2017.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Dell'orto
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via L. Mangiagalli 25, 20133, Milano, Italy
| | - Cristina Cattò
- Department of Food Environmental and Nutritional Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 2, 20133, Milano, Italy
| | - Federica Villa
- Department of Food Environmental and Nutritional Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 2, 20133, Milano, Italy
| | - Fabio Forlani
- Department of Food Environmental and Nutritional Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 2, 20133, Milano, Italy
| | - Espedito Vassallo
- Institute of Plasma Physics «Piero Caldirola», National Research Council (CNR), Via Roberto Cozzi 53, 20125, Milano, Italy
| | - Marco Morra
- Nobil Bio Ricerche S.r.l, Via Valcastellana 28, 14037, Portacomaro, (AT), Italy
| | - Francesca Cappitelli
- Department of Food Environmental and Nutritional Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 2, 20133, Milano, Italy
| | - Stefania Villa
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via L. Mangiagalli 25, 20133, Milano, Italy
| | - Arianna Gelain
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via L. Mangiagalli 25, 20133, Milano, Italy
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Villa F, Cappitelli F, Cortesi P, Kunova A. Fungal Biofilms: Targets for the Development of Novel Strategies in Plant Disease Management. Front Microbiol 2017; 8:654. [PMID: 28450858 PMCID: PMC5390024 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2017.00654] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2016] [Accepted: 03/30/2017] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The global food supply has been facing increasing challenges during the first decades of the 21st century. Disease in plants is an important constraint to worldwide crop production, accounting for 20-40% of its annual harvest loss. Although the use of resistant varieties, good water management and agronomic practices are valid management tools in counteracting plant diseases, there are still many pathosystems where fungicides are widely used for disease management. However, restrictive regulations and increasing concern regarding the risk to human health and the environment, along with the incidence of fungicide resistance, have discouraged their use and have prompted for a search for new efficient, ecologically friendly and sustainable disease management strategies. The recent evidence of biofilm formation by fungal phytopathogens provides the scientific framework for designing and adapting methods and concepts developed by biofilm research that could be integrated in IPM practices. In this perspective paper, we provide evidence to support the view that the biofilm lifestyle plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of plant diseases. We describe the main factors limiting the durability of single-site fungicides, and we assemble the current knowledge on pesticide resistance in the specific context of the biofilm lifestyle. Finally, we illustrate the potential of antibiofilm compounds at sub-lethal concentrations for the development of an innovative, eco-sustainable strategy to counteract phytopathogenic fungi. Such fungicide-free solutions will be instrumental in reducing disease severity, and will permit more prudent use of fungicides decreasing thus the selection of resistant forms and safeguarding the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Andrea Kunova
- Department of Food, Environmental and Nutritional Sciences, Università degli Studi di MilanoMilan, Italy
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Cattò C, Grazioso G, Dell'Orto S, Gelain A, Villa S, Marzano V, Vitali A, Villa F, Cappitelli F, Forlani F. The response of Escherichia coli biofilm to salicylic acid. Biofouling 2017; 33:235-251. [PMID: 28270055 DOI: 10.1080/08927014.2017.1286649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2016] [Accepted: 01/18/2017] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
In this research, salicylic acid is proposed as an alternative biocide-free agent suitable for a preventive or integrative anti-biofilm approach. Salicylic acid has been proved to: (1) reduce bacterial adhesion up to 68.1 ± 5.6%; (2) affect biofilm structural development, reducing viable biomass by 97.0 ± 0.7% and extracellular proteins and polysaccharides by 83.9 ± 2.5% and 49.5 ± 5.5% respectively; and (3) promote biofilm detachment 3.4 ± 0.6-fold. Moreover, salicylic acid treated biofilm showed an increased amount of intracellular (2.3 ± 0.2-fold) and extracellular (2.1 ± 0.3-fold) reactive oxygen species, and resulted in increased production of the quorum sensing signal indole (7.6 ± 1.4-fold). For the first time, experiments revealed that salicylic acid interacts with proteins that play a role in quorum sensing, reactive oxygen species accumulation, motility, extracellular polymeric matrix components, transport and metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Cattò
- a Department of Food Environmental and Nutritional Sciences , Università degli Studi di Milano , Milan , Italy
| | - Giovanni Grazioso
- b Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences , Università degli Studi di Milano , Milan , Italy
| | - Silvia Dell'Orto
- b Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences , Università degli Studi di Milano , Milan , Italy
| | - Arianna Gelain
- b Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences , Università degli Studi di Milano , Milan , Italy
| | - Stefania Villa
- b Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences , Università degli Studi di Milano , Milan , Italy
| | - Valeria Marzano
- c Institute of Biochemistry and Clinical Biochemistry , Catholic University , Rome , Italy
| | - Alberto Vitali
- d Institute of Chemistry of Molecular Recognition-UOS Roma , CNR , Rome , Italy
| | - Federica Villa
- a Department of Food Environmental and Nutritional Sciences , Università degli Studi di Milano , Milan , Italy
| | - Francesca Cappitelli
- a Department of Food Environmental and Nutritional Sciences , Università degli Studi di Milano , Milan , Italy
| | - Fabio Forlani
- a Department of Food Environmental and Nutritional Sciences , Università degli Studi di Milano , Milan , Italy
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Andreani ES, Villa F, Cappitelli F, Krasowska A, Biniarz P, Łukaszewicz M, Secundo F. Coating polypropylene surfaces with protease weakens the adhesion and increases the dispersion of Candida albicans cells. Biotechnol Lett 2016; 39:423-428. [PMID: 27878654 DOI: 10.1007/s10529-016-2262-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2016] [Accepted: 11/15/2016] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To investigate the ability of the proteases, subtilisin and α-chymotrypsin (aCT), to inhibit the adhesion of Candida albicans biofilm to a polypropylene surface. RESULTS The proteases were immobilized on plasma-treated polypropylene by covalently linking them with either glutaraldehyde (GA) or N'-diisopropylcarbodiimide (DIC) and N-hydroxysuccinimide (NHS). The immobilization did not negatively affect the enzyme activity and in the case of subtilisin, the activity was up to 640% higher than that of the free enzyme when using N-acetyl phenylalanine ethyl ester as the substrate. The efficacies against biofilm dispersal for the GA-linked SubC and aCT coatings were 41 and 55% higher than the control (polypropylene coated with only GA), respectively, whereas no effect was observed with enzymes immobilized with DIC and NHS. The higher dispersion efficacy observed for the proteases immobilized with GA could be both steric (proper orientation of the active site) and dynamic (higher protein mobility/flexibility). CONCLUSIONS Proteases immobilized on a polypropylene surface reduced the adhesion of C. albicans biofilms and therefore may be useful in developing anti-biofilm surfaces based on non-toxic molecules and sustainable strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eugenio Spadoni Andreani
- Istituto di Chimica del Riconoscimento Molecolare, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, via Mario Bianco 9, 20131, Milan, Italy
| | - Federica Villa
- Dipartimento di Scienze per gli Alimenti, la Nutrizione e l'Ambiente, Università degli Studi di Milano, via Celoria 2, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Francesca Cappitelli
- Dipartimento di Scienze per gli Alimenti, la Nutrizione e l'Ambiente, Università degli Studi di Milano, via Celoria 2, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Anna Krasowska
- Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Wrocław, Joilot-Curie 14a, 50-383, Wrocław, Poland
| | - Piotr Biniarz
- Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Wrocław, Joilot-Curie 14a, 50-383, Wrocław, Poland
| | - Marcin Łukaszewicz
- Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Wrocław, Joilot-Curie 14a, 50-383, Wrocław, Poland
| | - Francesco Secundo
- Istituto di Chimica del Riconoscimento Molecolare, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, via Mario Bianco 9, 20131, Milan, Italy.
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Villa F, Stewart PS, Klapper I, Jacob JM, Cappitelli F. Subaerial Biofilms on Outdoor Stone Monuments: Changing the Perspective Toward an Ecological Framework. Bioscience 2016. [DOI: 10.1093/biosci/biw006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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Sanmartín P, Mitchell R, Cappitelli F. Evaluation of Cleaning Methods for Graffiti Removal. Urban Pollution and Changes to Materials and Building Surfaces 2016. [DOI: 10.1142/9781783268863_0011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Patricia Sanmartín
- Laboratory of Applied Microbiology, School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, United States
- Departamento de Edafología y Química Agrícola, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Ralph Mitchell
- Laboratory of Applied Microbiology, School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, United States
| | - Francesca Cappitelli
- Dipartimento di Scienze per gli Alimenti, la Nutrizione e l'Ambiente, Università degli Studi di Milano, Italy
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Abstract
Biofilms constitute the predominant microbial style of life in natural and engineered ecosystems. Facing harsh environmental conditions, microorganisms accumulate reactive oxygen species (ROS), potentially encountering a dangerous condition called oxidative stress. While high levels of oxidative stress are toxic, low levels act as a cue, triggering bacteria to activate effective scavenging mechanisms or to shift metabolic pathways. Although a complex and fragmentary picture results from current knowledge of the pathways activated in response to oxidative stress, three main responses are shown to be central: the existence of common regulators, the production of extracellular polymeric substances, and biofilm heterogeneity. An investigation into the mechanisms activated by biofilms in response to different oxidative stress levels could have important consequences from ecological and economic points of view, and could be exploited to propose alternative strategies to control microbial virulence and deterioration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michela Gambino
- a Department of Food, Environmental and Nutrition Sciences , Università degli Studi di Milano , Milan , Italy
| | - Francesca Cappitelli
- a Department of Food, Environmental and Nutrition Sciences , Università degli Studi di Milano , Milan , Italy
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Villa F, Pitts B, Lauchnor E, Cappitelli F, Stewart PS. Development of a Laboratory Model of a Phototroph-Heterotroph Mixed-Species Biofilm at the Stone/Air Interface. Front Microbiol 2015; 6:1251. [PMID: 26635736 PMCID: PMC4646968 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2015.01251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2015] [Accepted: 10/27/2015] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent scientific investigations have shed light on the ecological importance and physiological complexity of subaerial biofilms (SABs) inhabiting lithic surfaces. In the field of sustainable cultural heritage (CH) preservation, mechanistic approaches aimed at investigation of the spatiotemporal patterns of interactions between the biofilm, the stone, and the atmosphere are of outstanding importance. However, these interactions have proven difficult to explore with field experiments due to the inaccessibility of samples, the complexity of the ecosystem under investigation and the temporal resolution of the experiments. To overcome these limitations, we aimed at developing a unifying methodology to reproduce a fast-growing, phototroph-heterotroph mixed species biofilm at the stone/air interface. Our experiments underscore the ability of the dual-species SAB model to capture functional traits characteristic of biofilms inhabiting lithic substrate such as: (i) microcolonies of aggregated bacteria; (ii) network like structure following surface topography; (iii) cooperation between phototrophs and heterotrophs and cross feeding processes; (iv) ability to change the chemical parameters that characterize the microhabitats; (v) survival under desiccation and (vi) biocide tolerance. With its advantages in control, replication, range of different experimental scenarios and matches with the real ecosystem, the developed model system is a powerful tool to advance our mechanistic understanding of the stone-biofilm-atmosphere interplay in different environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federica Villa
- Center for Biofilm Engineering, Montana State University, Bozeman MT, USA ; Dipartimento di Scienze per gli Alimenti, la Nutrizione e l'Ambiente, Università degli Studi di Milano Milano, Italy
| | - Betsey Pitts
- Center for Biofilm Engineering, Montana State University, Bozeman MT, USA
| | - Ellen Lauchnor
- Center for Biofilm Engineering, Montana State University, Bozeman MT, USA
| | - Francesca Cappitelli
- Dipartimento di Scienze per gli Alimenti, la Nutrizione e l'Ambiente, Università degli Studi di Milano Milano, Italy
| | - Philip S Stewart
- Center for Biofilm Engineering, Montana State University, Bozeman MT, USA
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Cattò C, Dell’Orto S, Villa F, Villa S, Gelain A, Vitali A, Marzano V, Baroni S, Forlani F, Cappitelli F. Unravelling the Structural and Molecular Basis Responsible for the Anti-Biofilm Activity of Zosteric Acid. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0131519. [PMID: 26132116 PMCID: PMC4488431 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0131519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2015] [Accepted: 06/03/2015] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The natural compound zosteric acid, or p-(sulfoxy)cinnamic acid (ZA), is proposed as an alternative biocide-free agent suitable for preventive or integrative anti-biofilm approaches. Despite its potential, the lack of information concerning the structural and molecular mechanism of action involved in its anti-biofilm activity has limited efforts to generate more potent anti-biofilm strategies. In this study a 43-member library of small molecules based on ZA scaffold diversity was designed and screened against Escherichia coli to understand the structural requirements necessary for biofilm inhibition at sub-lethal concentrations. Considerations concerning the relationship between structure and anti-biofilm activity revealed that i) the para-sulfoxy ester group is not needed to exploit the anti-biofilm activity of the molecule, it is the cinnamic acid scaffold that is responsible for anti-biofilm performance; ii) the anti-biofilm activity of ZA derivatives depends on the presence of a carboxylate anion and, consequently, on its hydrogen-donating ability; iii) the conjugated aromatic system is instrumental to the anti-biofilm activities of ZA and its analogues. Using a protein pull-down approach, combined with mass spectrometry, the herein-defined active structure of ZA was matrix-immobilized, and was proved to interact with the E. coli NADH:quinone reductase, WrbA, suggesting a possible role of this protein in the biofilm formation process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Cattò
- Department of Food Environmental and Nutritional Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Silvia Dell’Orto
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Federica Villa
- Department of Food Environmental and Nutritional Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy
- Center for Biofilm Engineering, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, United States of America
| | - Stefania Villa
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Arianna Gelain
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Alberto Vitali
- Institute of Chemistry of Molecular Recognition-UOS Rome, CNR, Roma, Italy
| | - Valeria Marzano
- Institute of Biochemistry and Clinical Biochemistry, Catholic University of Rome, Roma, Italy
| | - Sara Baroni
- Department of Food Environmental and Nutritional Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Fabio Forlani
- Department of Food Environmental and Nutritional Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Francesca Cappitelli
- Department of Food Environmental and Nutritional Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy
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Villa F, Secundo F, Polo A, Cappitelli F. Immobilized Hydrolytic Enzymes Exhibit Antibiofilm Activity Against Escherichia coli at Sub-Lethal Concentrations. Curr Microbiol 2015; 71:106-14. [PMID: 25958074 DOI: 10.1007/s00284-015-0834-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2014] [Accepted: 04/06/2015] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The effects of two commercially available immobilized enzymes (namely the glycosidase pectinase and the protease subtilisin A) at sub-lethal concentrations were investigated in terms of their influence on biofilm genesis, on the composition of the biofilm matrix, and their antibiotic synergy against Escherichia coli biofilm, used as a model system of bacterial biofilms. The best antibiofilm performance of solid-supported hydrolases was obtained at the surface concentration of 0.022 and 0.095 U/cm(2) with a reduction of 1.2 and 2.3 log CFU/biofilm for pectinase and subtilisin, respectively. At these enzyme surface concentrations, the biocatalysts affected the structural composition of the biofilm matrix, impacting biofilm thickness. Finally, the immobilized hydrolases enhanced biofilm sensitivity to a clinically relevant concentration of the antibiotic ampicillin. At the final antibiotic concentration of 0.1 mg/ml, a reduction of 2 and 3.5 log10 units in presence of 0.022 Upectinase/cm(2) and 0.095 Usubtilisin/cm(2) was obtained, respectively, in comparison the antibiotic alone. Immobilized pectinase and subtilisin at sub-lethal concentrations demonstrated a great potential for antibiofilm applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federica Villa
- Dipartimento di Scienze per gli Alimenti, la Nutrizione e l'Ambiente, Università degli Studi di Milano, via Celoria 2, 20133, Milan, Italy,
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Gambino M, Marzano V, Villa F, Vitali A, Vannini C, Landini P, Cappitelli F. Effects of sublethal doses of silver nanoparticles on Bacillus subtilis
planktonic and sessile cells. J Appl Microbiol 2015; 118:1103-15. [DOI: 10.1111/jam.12779] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2014] [Revised: 02/10/2015] [Accepted: 02/14/2015] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- M. Gambino
- Department of Biosciences; Università degli Studi di Milano; Milan Italy
| | - V. Marzano
- Institute of Chemistry of Molecular Recognition; Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR); Rome Italy
| | - F. Villa
- Department of Food, Environmental and Nutritional Sciences; Università degli Studi di Milano; Milan Italy
| | - A. Vitali
- Institute of Chemistry of Molecular Recognition; Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR); Rome Italy
| | - C. Vannini
- Department of Biotecnology and Life Science; Università degli Studi dell'Insubria; Varese Italy
| | - P. Landini
- Department of Biosciences; Università degli Studi di Milano; Milan Italy
| | - F. Cappitelli
- Department of Food, Environmental and Nutritional Sciences; Università degli Studi di Milano; Milan Italy
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Villa F, Vasanthakumar A, Mitchell R, Cappitelli F. RNA-based molecular survey of biodiversity of limestone tombstone microbiota in response to atmospheric sulphur pollution. Lett Appl Microbiol 2014; 60:92-102. [DOI: 10.1111/lam.12345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2014] [Revised: 10/18/2014] [Accepted: 10/19/2014] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- F. Villa
- Dipartimento di Scienze per gli Alimenti; la Nutrizione e l'Ambiente; Università degli Studi di Milano; Milano Italy
| | - A. Vasanthakumar
- Laboratory of Applied Microbiology; School of Engineering and Applied Sciences; Harvard University; Cambridge MA USA
| | - R. Mitchell
- Laboratory of Applied Microbiology; School of Engineering and Applied Sciences; Harvard University; Cambridge MA USA
| | - F. Cappitelli
- Dipartimento di Scienze per gli Alimenti; la Nutrizione e l'Ambiente; Università degli Studi di Milano; Milano Italy
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Villa F, Villa S, Gelain A, Cappitelli F. Sub-lethal activity of small molecules from natural sources and their synthetic derivatives against biofilm forming nosocomial pathogens. Curr Top Med Chem 2014; 13:3184-204. [PMID: 24200356 DOI: 10.2174/15680266113136660225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2013] [Revised: 09/25/2013] [Accepted: 10/10/2013] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Nowadays, the patient safety is seriously jeopardized by the emergence and spread of nosocomial pathogens in the form of biofilm that is resistant to traditional and affordable antimicrobials. Although advances in organic synthesis have extended the lifetime of classic antibiotics through synthetic modifications, the search of innovative antibiofilm compounds from natural sources can provide new templates, novel targets and unique mechanisms that should have advantages over known antimicrobial agents. Testing sub-lethal concentrations of crude extracts and/or isolated compounds from plants and microorganisms is critical to acting on mechanisms subtler than the killing activity, e.g. those influencing the multicellular behavior, offering an elegant way to develop novel antimicrobial-free antibiofilm strategies. Herein we discussed the search and biological activity of small molecules from natural sources and their synthetic derivatives able to modulate biofilm genesis of nosocomial pathogens through non-microbicidal mechanisms (sub-lethal concentrations). The present work offers an overview about the approaches applied to the discovery of lead small molecules including a) conventional drug design methods like screening of chemical compounds obtained from nature and b) computer- aided drug design approaches. Finally, a classification (not exhaustive but representative) based on the natural origin of small molecules and their synthetic derivatives was reported. The information presented in this review should be of interest to a broad range of disciplines and represents an effort to summarize experimental research and advances in this field.
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Sanmartín P, Villa F, Polo A, Silva B, Prieto B, Cappitelli F. Rapid evaluation of three biocide treatments against the cyanobacterium Nostoc sp. PCC 9104 by color changes. ANN MICROBIOL 2014. [DOI: 10.1007/s13213-014-0882-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
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Cappitelli F, Polo A, Villa F. Biofilm Formation in Food Processing Environments is Still Poorly Understood and Controlled. Food Eng Rev 2014. [DOI: 10.1007/s12393-014-9077-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 108] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
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Troiano F, Polo A, Villa F, Cappitelli F. Assessing the microbiological risk to stored sixteenth century parchment manuscripts: a holistic approach based on molecular and environmental studies. Biofouling 2014; 30:299-311. [PMID: 24552245 DOI: 10.1080/08927014.2013.871539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
The microbial risk for the conservation of seven sixteenth century parchment manuscripts, which showed brown discolouration putatively caused by microorganisms, was evaluated using non-invasive sampling techniques, microscopy, studies of surface-associated and airborne microflora with culture-independent molecular methods, and by measuring repository thermo-hygrometric values. Microscopic observations and ATP assays demonstrated a low level of contamination, indicating that the discolouration was not related to currently active microbial colonisation. Nevertheless, a culture-independent molecular approach was adopted to fully characterise surface-associated communities searching for biodeteriogens that could grow under appropriate thermo-hygrometric conditions. Indeed, potential biodeteriogens and microorganisms that are ecologically related to humans were found, suggesting the need to control the conservation environment and improve handling procedures. Microbial loads of air and thermo-hygrometric measurements showed that the repository was not suitable for preventing the microbial deterioration of parchment. A holistic approach to the assessment of risk of microbial deterioration of documents and heritage preservation is proposed for the first time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federica Troiano
- a a Dipartimento di Scienze per gli Alimenti, la Nutrizione e l'Ambiente (DeFENS) , Università degli Studi di Milano , Milan , Italy
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Cappitelli F, Villa F, Polo A. Culture-independent methods to study subaerial biofilm growing on biodeteriorated surfaces of stone cultural heritage and frescoes. Methods Mol Biol 2014; 1147:341-366. [PMID: 24664845 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-0467-9_24] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Actinobacteria, cyanobacteria, algae, and fungi form subaerial biofilm (SAB) that can lead to material deterioration on artistic stone and frescoes. In studying SAB on cultural heritage surfaces, a general approach is to combine microscopy observations and molecular analyses. Sampling of biofilm is performed using specific adhesive tape and sampling of SAB and the substrate with sterile scalpels and chisels. Biofilm observations are carried out using optical and scanning electron microscopy. Specific taxa and EPS in biofilm can be readily visualized by fluorochrome staining and subsequent observation using fluorescence or confocal laser scanning microscopy. The observation of cross sections containing both SAB and the substrate shows if biofilm has developed not only on the surface but also underneath. Following nucleic acid extraction, 16S rRNA gene sequencing is used to identify bacterial taxa, while 18S rRNA gene and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequence analysis is used to study eukaryotic groups. In this chapter, we illustrate the protocols related to fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE).
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Cappitelli
- Dipartimento di Scienze per gli Alimenti, la Nutrizione e l'Ambiente, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy,
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Gambino M, Cappitelli F, Cattò C, Carpen A, Principi P, Ghezzi L, Bonaduce I, Galano E, Pucci P, Birolo L, Villa F, Forlani F. A simple and reliable methodology to detect egg white in art samples. J Biosci 2013; 38:397-408. [DOI: 10.1007/s12038-013-9321-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Giacomucci L, Purdy KJ, Zanardini E, Polo A, Cappitelli F. A new non-degenerate primer pair for the specific detection of the nitrite reductase gene nrfA in the genus Desulfovibrio. J Mol Microbiol Biotechnol 2012; 22:345-51. [PMID: 23295220 DOI: 10.1159/000345768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonia (DNRA) is the process in which nitrate is reduced, via nitrite, to ammonia. Bacteria known to carry out DNRA mainly originate from wastewater treatment plants, where DNRA is a relevant process. The ability to carry out DNRA is phylogenetically widespread, and the gene nrfA, encoding for the key enzyme of the second step of the pathway, could be used as a marker for this process. In this study we developed a new primer pair specific for nrfA in the genus Desulfovibrio. The specificity of the primer pair was tested on DNA from thirteen species of Desulfovibrio and DNA from two wastewater samples. PCR amplifications yielded products of the expected size (850 bp), and sequences obtained from Desulfovibrio strains and environmental sample clone libraries matched the Desulfovibrio nrfA gene. Nevertheless, we found nrfA gene sequences in the environmental samples that are not present in the databases. The new primer set can be used to obtain more sequences of the nrfA gene and improve our knowledge of the DNRA pathway in this genus, e.g. with the aim to improve the wastewater treatment process.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Giacomucci
- Dipartimento di Scienze per gli Alimenti, la Nutrizione e l'Ambiente, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
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Giacomucci L, Toja F, Sanmartín P, Toniolo L, Prieto B, Villa F, Cappitelli F. Degradation of nitrocellulose-based paint by Desulfovibrio desulfuricans ATCC 13541. Biodegradation 2012; 23:705-16. [PMID: 22367465 DOI: 10.1007/s10532-012-9546-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2011] [Accepted: 02/15/2012] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Nitrocellulose is one of the most commonly used compounds in ammunition and paint industries and its recalcitrance to degradation has a negative impact on human health and the environment. In this study the capability of Desulfovibrio desulfuricans ATCC 13541 to degrade nitrocellulose as binder in paint was assayed for the first time. Nitrocellulose-based paint degradation was followed by monitoring the variation in nitrate, nitrite and ammonium content in the culture medium using Ultraviolet-Visible spectroscopy. At the same time cell counts and ATP assay were performed to estimate bacterial density and activity in all samples. Infrared spectroscopy and colorimetric measurements of paint samples were performed to assess chemical and colour changes due to the microbial action. Microscope observations of nitrocellulose-based paint samples demonstrated the capability of the bacterium to adhere to the paint surface and change the paint adhesive characteristics. Finally, preliminary studies of nitrocellulose degradation pathway were conducted by assaying nitrate- and nitrite reductases activity in D. desulfuricans grown in presence or in absence of paint. We found that D. desulfuricans ATCC 13541 is able to transform nitrocellulose as paint binder and we hypothesised ammonification as degradation pathway. The results suggest that D. desulfuricans ATCC 13541 is a good candidate as a nitrocellulose-degrading bacterium.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Giacomucci
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Alimentari e Microbiologiche, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 2, 20133 Milan, Italy
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Villa F, Borgonovo G, Cappitelli F, Giussani B, Bassoli A. Sub-lethal concentrations of Muscari comosum bulb extract suppress adhesion and induce detachment of sessile yeast cells. Biofouling 2012; 28:1107-1117. [PMID: 23061484 DOI: 10.1080/08927014.2012.734811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
The formation of yeast biofilm on food industry equipment can lead to serious hygiene problems and economic losses due to food spoilage and equipment impairment. This study explored the ability of a sub-lethal concentration of the bulb extract of Muscari comosum to modulate adhesion of Candida albicans and subsequent biofilm development by this fungus. The HPLC profile of the ethanolic bulb extract showed phenolic constituents, which were found to undergo Folin-Ciocalteu reagent reduction. Prior to the adhesion tests, it was shown that up to 4000 mg l(-1) of natural extract did not adversely affect fungal growth nor did it act as a carbon energy source for C. albicans. Mathematical models predicted that 4000 mg l(-1) and 700 mg l(-1) of bulb extract would cause more than 98% reduction in fungal coverage on abiotic surfaces, without killing the planktonic cells. When added to C. albicans biofilm, the natural extract was shown to induce the dispersion of sessile cells in a dose-dependent manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federica Villa
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie per gli Alimenti, la Nutrizione e l'Ambiente, Università degli Studi di Milano, via Celoria 2, 20133, Milano, Italy
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Villa F, Remelli W, Forlani F, Gambino M, Landini P, Cappitelli F. Effects of chronic sub-lethal oxidative stress on biofilm formation by Azotobacter vinelandii. Biofouling 2012; 28:823-833. [PMID: 22871137 DOI: 10.1080/08927014.2012.715285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
This work showed that perturbations of the physiological steady-state level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) affected biofilm genesis and the characteristics of the model bacterium Azotobacter vinelandii. To get a continuous endogenous source of ROS, a strain exposed to chronic sub-lethal oxidative stress was deprived of the gene coding for the antioxidant rhodanese-like protein RhdA (MV474). In this study MV474 biofilm showed (i) a seven-fold higher growth rate, (ii) induction of catalase and alkyl-hydroxyl-peroxidase enzymes, (iii) higher average thicknesses due to increased production of a polysaccharide-rich extracellular matrix and (iv) less susceptibility to hydrogen peroxide than the wild-type strain (UW136). MV474 showed increased swimming and swarming activity and the swarming colonies experienced a higher level of oxidative stress compared to UW136. A continuous exogenous source of ROS increased biofilm formation in UW136. Overall, chronic sub-lethal oxidative events promoted sessile behavior in A. vinelandii.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federica Villa
- Dipartimento di Scienze per gli Alimenti, la Nutrizione e l'Ambiente, Università degli Studi di Milano, via Celoria 2, Milano, 20133, Italy
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