Degradation of Biofilm Formed by Opportunistic Pathogens using Amylase Extracted from Bacillus tequilensis

Abstract

Biofilm degradation with amylase is one of the effective ways for controlling bacterial biofilm. Although amylase can be obtained from several sources, microbial amylase is preferred. Information of the new source of amylase and its activity is therefore fundamental for new applications and enzyme technology advancement. In this study, amylase was extracted from bacteria isolated from soil in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand. Two different soil isolates AMPB10 and AMPB31 were selected for the purification of amylase; they were identified as Bacillus tequilensis and Bacillus subtilis, respectively. The efficiencies of purified amylase in degradation of biofilm of Staphylococcus aureus TISTR 1466, Staphylococcus epidermidis TISTR 518, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa TISTRA 781 biofilms were measured. The amylase from AMPB10 and AMPB31 degraded 70.9% and 66.1% of S. aureus biofilm, 59.6% and 64.1% of S. epidermidis biofilm, and 57.8% and 60.1% of P. aeruginosa biofilm, respectively. Amylase produced from AMPB10 had greater biofilm degrading activity on S. aureus than AMPB31, while amylase from AMPB31 was more effective against P. aeruginosa and S. epidermidis at high concentration. However, AMPB10 amylase showed stronger degrading activity on P. aeruginosa at intermediate concentration. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report demonstrating a successful use of B. tequilensis amylase to degrade the bacterial biofilm.

Keywords:
Biofilm degradation; Amylase; Bacillus tequilensis

HIGHLIGHTS

The goal of this study was to identify an amylase enzyme capable of degrading pathogenic bacterial biofilms. The findings of this research could be applied in the medical field, especially in the area of medical device sanitization. This helps to prevent infection in patients who are exposed to medical devices.

This is the first study to demonstrate that amylase derived from Bacillus tequilensis can degrade microbial biofilms.

This study sheds light on bacterial biofilm degradation using soil isolate bacteria. The results will aid future research into biofilm degradation using amylase enzymes.