Researchers from KU Leuven in Belgium have developed a new antibacterial strategy that weakens bacteria by preventing them from cooperating. The researchers showed that blocking slime (extracellular polymeric substance) production of salmonella bacteria weakens the bacterial community, making it easier to remove.
They used a chemical, antibacterial substance 2-cyclopentenyl-5-(4-chlorophenyl)-2-aminoimidazole, a specific member of the class of 5-aryl-2-aminoimidazoles as extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) inhibitor. Researchers at KU Leuven previously reported utility of 5-aryl-2-aminoimidazoles in preventing EPS production of salmonella bacteria.
The findings of this study are published in Nature Communications.
Traditional antibiotics kill or reduce the activity of individual bacteria. Some bacteria become resistant to these antibiotics, allowing them to grow further and take over from non-resistant ones. The use of antibiotics, therefore, causes more and more bacteria to become resistant to antibiotics. Bacteria, however, also exhibit group behavior: for example, they can make a protective slime layer or biofilm that envelops their entire bacterial community. The social behavior of bacteria is an interesting new target for antibacterial therapy. Their experiments also suggested a reduction of antibiotic resistance development.
Researchers note that there are several applications possible in agriculture, industry, and even households. To this end, the researchers collaborate with experts in various applications, and with producers of animal feeds and cleaning products and disinfectants. The researchers are also investigating whether they can reproduce the phenomenon in other forms of microbial collaboration, and with other bacteria.