Biofilm formation in marine bacteria and biocidal sensitivity: interplay between a potent antibiofilm compound (AS162) and quorum-sensing autoinducers

The capacity of two homoserine lactones to stimulate the marine bacteria Pseudoalteromonas ulvae (TC14 strain) for its capacity to form a biofilm when exposed to a potent antibiofilm compound AS162 is reported. Effective concentrations (EC₅₀) of AS162 at 24 h, 48 h, and 72 h were, respectively, of 4.3, 4.4, and 6.0 µM. When tested in combination with HSLs, results showed that quorum-sensing signal molecules 3-oxo-C6 and 3-oxo-C8 homoserine lactones do not act directly on the biofilm formation, but are able to interfere positively with AS162 to promote biofilm growth with EC₅₀ ranging from 30 to 50 µM. The same results were obtained with two other marine bacterial strains: Pseudoalteromonas lipolytica TC8 and Paracoccus sp. 4M6. These findings suggest that HSLs can significantly affect the biocidal sensitivity of marine bacteria to antifouling agents.