Inhibition of Biofilm Formation by Modified Oxylipins from the Shipworm Symbiont <i>Teredinibacter turnerae</i>

Abstract

The bioactivity-guided purification of the culture broth of the shipworm endosymbiont Teredinibacter turnerae strain 991H.S.0a.06 yielded a new fatty acid, turneroic acid (1), and two previously described oxylipins (2–3). Turneroic acid (1) is an 18-carbon fatty acid decorated by a hydroxy group and an epoxide ring. Compounds 1–3 inhibited bacterial biofilm formation in Staphylococcus epidermidis, while only 3 showed antimicrobial activity against planktonic S. epidermidis. Comparison of the bioactivity of 1–3 with structurally related compounds indicated the importance of the epoxide moiety for selective and potent biofilm inhibition.

Keywords

• anti-biofilm
• oxylipins
• Staphylococcus epidermidis
• Lyrodus
• shipworm
• Teredinibacter turnerae