Salicylic acid stabilizes Staphylococcus aureus biofilm by impairing the agr quorum-sensing system.

ABSTRACT: Salicylic acid (SAL) has recently been shown to induce biofilm formation in Staphylococcus aureus and to affect the expression of virulence factors. This study was aimed to investigate the effect of SAL on the regulatory agr system and its impact on S. aureus biofilm formation. The agr quorum-sensing system, which is a central regulator in S. aureus pathogenicity, plays a pivotal role in the dispersal of S. aureus mature biofilms and contributes to the creation of new colonization sites. Here, we demonstrate that SAL impairs biofilm dispersal by interfering with agr expression. As revealed by our work, protease and surfactant molecule production is diminished, and bacterial cell autolysis is also negatively affected by SAL. Furthermore, as a consequence of SAL treatment, the S. aureus biof

SUBMITTER: Dotto C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7858585 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature