Inhibition of a Biofilm using Rhamnolipid obtained from a Moderate halophile Pseudomonas aeruginosaSH-6

In today’s global scenario, chronic infections are common and often difficult to deal with. There has been a consistent surge in the number of chronic infections over the past decades. A variety of factors govern the onset and progression of infections. Biofilm is a conglomerate of different types of microbial cells. Biofilm formation has been observed to be one of the common aspects in a wide number of infections related to respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts. Biofilm acts as a protective shield and offers a selective advantage to the pathogens to escape the host defense mechanism and the inhibitory impact of the antibiotics. There is a need to investigate methods to inhibit biofilm formation that could eventually aid in the treatment of an infection. Several methods to inhibit biofilm formation emphasize surface modification so that the organism is not able to adhere to the surface. Other methods consist of gene regulation and controlling the quorum sensing mechanisms governing biofilm formation. In this research, a biosurfactant, Rhamnolipid was obtained from a moderate halophile, Pseudomonas aeruginosa SH-6, and investigated for anti-biofilm potential. The emphasis was on clinically significant isolates known to synthesize biofilms. Appropriate controls were used, and a microtiter-well-based biofilm inhibition assay was conducted, using 0.1% Crystal violet for staining. It was found that Rhamnolipid (100mg/mL) was potent in inhibiting the biofilm of Pseudomonas aeruginosa MCC 2080 (ATCC 27853) with 60.51% ±1.27% (P-value < .05) inhibition and biofilm of Staphylococcus aureus NCIM 5022 (ATCC 29213) with 32.24% ±1.35% (P-value < .05) inhibition.