Luyan Z Ma
Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
Title: Biofi lm disassembly and prevention by glycosyl hydrolase
Biography
Biography: Luyan Z Ma
Abstract
Biofi lms are surface associated communities of microorganism embedded in extracellular matrix. Exopolysaccharide is a critical component in the extracellular matrix that maintains biofi lm architecture and protects resident biofi lm bacteria from antimicrobials and host immune attack. However, the self produced factors that target the matrix exopolysaccharides are poorly understood. Here we show that PslG, a protein involved in the synthesis of a key biofi lm matrix exopolysaccharide Psl in Pseudomonas aeruginosa, prevents biofi lm formation and disassembles existing biofi lms within minutes at nanomolar concentrations while supplied exogenously. Th e crystal structure of PslG indicates the typical features of an endoglycosidase. PslG disrupts mainly the Psl matrix to disperse bacteria from biofi lms. PslG treatment markedly enhances biofi lm sensitivity to antibiotics and macrophage cells, resulting in improved biofi lm clearance in a mouse implant infection model. Furthermore, PslG shows biofi lm inhibition and disassembly activity against a wide range of Pseudomonas species, indicating its great potential in combating biofi lm related complications.