Discovery of Novel Resistance Mechanisms of <i>Vibrio parahaemolyticus</i> Biofilm against Aminoglycoside Antibiotics

Abstract

Inappropriate use of antibiotics eventually leads to the emergence of antibiotic-resistant strains and invalidates the treatment of infectious diseases. Aminoglycoside antibiotics (AGAs) are a class of broad-spectrum cationic antibiotics widely used for the treatment of Gram-negative bacterial infections. Understanding the AGA resistance mechanism of bacteria would increase the efficacy of treating these infections. This study demonstrates a significant correlation between AGA resistance and the adaptation of biofilms by Vibrio parahaemolyticus (VP). These adaptations were the result of challenges against the aminoglycosides (amikacin and gentamicin). Confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM) analysis revealed an enclosure type mechanism where the biological volume (BV) and average thickness (AT) of V. parahaemolyticus biofilm were significantly positively correlated with amikacin resistance (BIC) (p V. parahaemolyticus when compared with planktonic cells. The three mechanistic strategies of developing resistance demonstrate that selective and judicious use of new antibiotics are needed to win the battle against infectious disease.

Keywords

• biofilm
• aminoglycoside antibiotics
• antibiotic resistance mechanism
• <i>Vibrio parahaemolyticus</i>