Effect of non-thermal plasma on AHL-dependent QS systems and biofilm formation in Pseudomonas aeruginosa: Difference between non-hospital and clinical isolates

摘要

Non-thermal plasma (NTP), generated by DC cometary discharge with a metallic grid at atmospheric pressure, was used to eradicate biofilm of Pseudomonas aeruginosa from titanium alloy Ti-6Al-4V carriers. The NTP exposure may reduce the ability of signal molecules to cause quorum sensing (QS) response in P. aeruginosa and as a result, affect the production of virulence factors including biofilm formation. Two groups of P. aeruginosa were compared, namely strains isolated from the environment (non-hospital) and clinical isolates from hospital environment. For the non-hospital strains, the inhibition of QS systems, mediated mainly by N-acyl-homoserine lactone (AHL) signals, and decrease of total biofilm biomass were observed after the NTP treatment. After 60 minutes of exposure, almost complete eradication of biofilm (54 - 98%) was achieved. Compared to that, the NTP effect on the AHL levels was more pronounced in clinical isolates of P. aeruginosa , but eradication of the biofilm was not achieved. We conclude that NTP affected the AHL-dependent QS systems ( las and rhl ), which does not necessarily have to result in the regulation of virulence in clinical isolates.