2-Heptylcyclopropane-1-Carboxylic Acid Disperses and Inhibits Bacterial Biofilms

Abstract

Fatty-acid signaling molecules can inhibit biofilm formation, signal dispersal events, and revert dormant cells within biofilms to a metabolically active state. We synthesized 2-heptylcyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (2CP), an analog of -2-decenoic acid (C2DA), which contains a cyclopropanated bond that may lock the signaling factor in an active state and prevent isomerization to its least active -configuration (T2DA). 2CP was compared to C2DA and T2DA for ability to disperse biofilms formed by and . 2CP at 125 μg/ml dispersed approximately 100% of cells compared to 25% for C2DA; both 2CP and C2DA had significantly less biofilm remaining compared to T2DA, which achieved no significant dispersal. 2CP at 125 μg/ml dispersed approximately 60% of biofilms, whereas C2DA and T2DA at the same concentration dispersed 40%. When combined with antibiotics tobramycin, tetracycline, or levofloxacin, 2CP decreased the minimum concentration required for biofilm inhibition and eradication, demonstrating synergistic and additive responses for certain combinations. Furthermore, 2CP supported fibroblast viability above 80% for concentrations below 1 mg/ml. This study demonstrates that 2CP shows similar or improved efficacy in biofilm dispersion, inhibition, and eradication compared to C2DA and T2DA and thus may be promising for use in preventing infection for healthcare applications.

Publication Title

Frontiers in microbiology

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