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Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, March 2009, p. 1204-1209, Vol. 53, No. 3
0066-4804/09/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/AAC.00471-08
Copyright © 2009, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Effect of DNase and Antibiotics on Biofilm Characteristics{triangledown}

George V. Tetz, Natalia K. Artemenko, and Victor V. Tetz*

Department of Microbiology, Virology, and Immunology, St. Petersburg State Pavlov Medical University, 6/8, Tolstoy Str., St. Petersburg 197089, Russia

Received 9 April 2008/ Returned for modification 27 May 2008/ Accepted 25 November 2008

The role of extracellular DNA in the maintenance of biofilms formed by gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria was studied. This study evaluated all the bacterial strains that were tested for the presence of extracellular DNA with an average size of 30 kb in the matrix. Our results indicate changes in community biomass, architecture, morphology, and the numbers of CFU in the presence of DNase. This effect seems to be common to biofilms established by various unrelated gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. The cleavage of extracellular DNA leads to the formation of an altered biofilm that permits the increased penetration of antibiotics. Thus, the addition of DNase enhances the effect of antibiotics, resulting in decreased biofilm biomass and numbers of CFU.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Department of Microbiology, Virology, and Immunology, St. Petersburg State Pavlov Medical University, 6/8, Tolstoy Str., St. Petersburg 197089, Russia. Phone: 7 812 499 7049. Fax: 7 812 234 3146. E-mail: vtetzv{at}yahoo.com

{triangledown} Published ahead of print on 8 December 2008.

Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, March 2009, p. 1204-1209, Vol. 53, No. 3
0066-4804/09/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/AAC.00471-08
Copyright © 2009, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.





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