Investigating the anti-bioadhesion properties of short, medium chain length, and amphiphilic polyhydroxyalkanoate films.

Silicone materials are widely used in fouling release coatings, but developing eco-friendly protection biosourced coatings, such as polyhydroxyalcanoates (PHA) presents a major challenge. Anti-bioadhesion properties of medium chain length PHA and short chain length PHA films are studied and compared with a reference Polydimethylsiloxane coating. The results highlight the best capability of the soft and low-roughness PHA-mcl films to resist bacteria or diatoms adsorption as compared to neat PDMS and PHBHV coatings.

Anti-Biofilm Activity of a Hyaluronan-like Exopolysaccharide from the Marine MO245 against Pathogenic Bacteria.

Biofilms, responsible for many serious drawbacks in the medical and marine environment, can grow on abiotic and biotic surfaces. Commercial anti-biofilm solutions, based on the use of biocides, are available but their use increases the risk of antibiotic resistance and environmental pollution in marine industries. There is an urgent need to work on the development of ecofriendly solutions, formulated without biocidal agents, that rely on the anti-adhesive physico-chemical properties of their materials.

Anti-Biofilm Effect of Biodegradable Coatings Based on Hemibastadin Derivative in Marine Environment.

Dibromohemibastadin-1 (DBHB) is an already known potent inhibitor of blue mussel phenoloxidase (which is a key enzyme involved in bioadhesion). Within this study, the potentiality of DBHB against microfouling has been investigated. The activity of DBHB was evaluated on key strains of bacteria and microalgae involved in marine biofilm formation and bioassays assessing impact on growth, adhesion and biofilm formation were used.

Influence of Biodegradable Polymer Properties on Antifouling Paints Activity.

The development of new antifouling paints requires understanding the parameters involved in antifouling activity and to develop new analytical tools for their evaluation. A series of biodegradable poly(ε-caprolactone--δ-valerolactone) copolymers varying by molecular weight and composition were synthesized, characterized and formulated as antifouling paints. The physico-chemical properties such as hydration, degradation, erosion and lixiviation of paints were studied.

Joint-action of antifouling substances in copper-free paints.

Due to the environmentally harmful impact of tributyltin self-polishing paints, there is a critical need of more ecological alternatives. The aim of the present work is to study the joint-action of three molecules chosen in order to combine the two modes of prevention: chemical and physical repelling of biofouling. This "hybrid" system is principally dedicated to disturb durable settlement of microfouling.

Evaluation of antibacterial activity against Salmonella Enteritidis.

Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis is a well-known pathogenic bacterium responsible for human gastrointestinal enteritis mainly due to the consumption of eggs and egg-products. The first aim of this work was to study several virulence factors of a strain isolated from egg content: SEovo. First, bacterial growth was studied at several temperatures and cell morphology was observed by scanning electronic microscopy.

Monohalogenated maleimides as potential agents for the inhibition of Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm.

New monohalogenated maleimide derivatives (with bromine, chlorine or iodine) were synthesized to test the effect of halogen atoms in inhibiting the formation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm. The evaluation of their biological activities clearly defines a structure-activity relationship. In this study, the bactericidal action of the three compounds was observed at the concentration range 0.

Modification of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) film by chemical graft copolymerization.

The graft copolymerization of 2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate (HEMA) onto poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBHV) films has been investigated. The graft copolymerization was conducted in aqueous media using benzoyl peroxide (BPO) as chemical initiator. PHBHV films were prepared by solvent casting.

Degradation and controlled release behavior of epsilon-caprolactone copolymers in biodegradable antifouling coatings.

Copolymers of caprolactone with delta-valerolactone and L-lactide were synthesized by ring-opening polymerization in the presence of tetrabutoxytitane in order to decrease the crystallinity of polycaprolactone (PCL) and to enlarge its potential applications. The kinetics of degradation and controlled release of bioactive molecules were investigated in aqueous medium at room temperature for 9 months. The influence of the comonomer structures, their molar ratio, and the presence of fillers on these kinetics were examined.

Maturation by LctT is required for biosynthesis of full-length lantibiotic lacticin 481.

In lantibiotic lacticin 481 biosynthesis, LctT cleaves the precursor peptide and exports mature lantibiotic. Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry revealed that a truncated form of lacticin 481 is produced in the absence of LctT or after cleavage site inactivation. Production of truncated lacticin 481 is 4-fold less efficient, and its specific activity is about 10-fold lower.

Lipid A components from Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 (serotype O5) and mutant strains investigated by electrospray ionization ion-trap mass spectrometry.

The lipid A components of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains PAO1 (wild-type) and derived mutants PAO1 algC::tet and PAO1 PDO100 were isolated after mild acetic acid hydrolysis of LPS. Their structural heterogeneities were characterized using electrospray ionization (ESI) ion-trap mass spectrometry (MS) with direct infusion in the negative ion mode without prior derivatization. The ESI-mass spectra revealed monophosphorylated molecules corresponding to known tetra-, penta- and hexaacylated structures of P.

Bacterial biofilm in seawater: cell surface properties of early-attached marine bacteria.

The development of antifouling strategies in seawater requires knowledge of the physico-chemical properties of the cell surfaces of early adherent bacteria. The hydrophilic, electrostatic and the Lewis acid-base cell surface properties of eleven marine bacteria were characterized. Although these bacteria adhered to a hydrophilic support immersed for 3 and 6 h, they presented various physico-chemical properties.

On-line high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometric detection and quantification of N-acylhomoserine lactones, quorum sensing signal molecules, in the presence of biological matrices.

A protocol using reversed-phase liquid chromatography coupled with positive-ion electrospray ionization and ion trap mass spectrometry is described for the identification and quantification of N-acylhomoserine lactones (HSLs) in crude cell-free supernatants of bacterial cultures. The HSLs are produced by gram-negative bacteria and act as intercellular signals inducing density-dependent gene expression. Compared with the multi-step procedures previously reported, which included chemical extraction, purification and the use of Escherichia coli HSL biosensors, this on-line LC-MS-MS method is fast and detects 11 HSLs.

Bacteriocin detection from whole bacteria by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry.

Class I bacteriocins (lantibiotics) and class II bacteriocins are antimicrobial peptides secreted by gram-positive bacteria. Using two lantibiotics, lacticin 481 and nisin, and the class II bacteriocin coagulin, we showed that bacteriocins can be detected without any purification from whole producer bacteria grown on plates by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS). When we compared the results of MALDI-TOF-MS performed with samples of whole cells and with samples of crude supernatants of liquid cultures, the former samples led to more efficient bacteriocin detection and required less handling.