Exploring the effects of honey's anti-quorum sensing activity on bacterial cell membrane

Abstract

In recent years, honey is being assayed in the food industry to inhibit communication between pathogenic microorganisms. One strategy to attack antibiotic resistant strain is by the development of new ways that reduced the virulence expression. Here, we evaluated the anti-Quorum Sensing (QS) activity of multi-floral honeys using Chromobacterium violaceum. The disruption of the cell membrane was confirmed through FT-IR spectroscopy, hydrophobicity, and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). Shifts in the frequency of the main peaks (cm−1), showed that bioactive compounds from honey affected the structure of the C. violaceum membrane. The most significant changes were observed at the membrane proteins and lipids level. The polarity of the cell membrane affects the diffusion of the inducing molecules. Supporting the changes in hydrophobicity, SEM revealed alterations in the appearance of the cell surface. Consequently, honey contributes to avoid bacterial injury by the disruption of membrane, and hence, cell communication and virulence.

Keywords

• Honey compounds
• Cell communication
• FTIR
• SEM
• Hydrophobicity