Mushrooms: Biofilm Busters?

The rise of antibacterial-resistant infections is a growing concern within the medical community. Biofilms, which are collections of bacterial cells that adhere to surfaces and each other, are often to blame for these infections. These bacterial communities are difficult to eliminate because they exhibit resistance to many antibiotics. However, wild mushroom extracts have been found to have antibacterial properties and can inhibit biofilm formation by multi-resistant bacteria. Mushrooms may be a source of natural antimicrobials and could play a significant role in the development of new antibiotics.

Wild mushroom extracts can inhibit biofilm formation by multi-resistant bacteria

Mushrooms have long been valued for their medicinal properties, including their antibacterial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, antifungal, and antioxidant qualities. They are also a source of natural antimicrobials. Wild mushrooms, in particular, have been found to contain unique bioactive molecules that can inhibit biofilm formation by multi-resistant bacteria.

Biofilms are collections of bacterial cells that adhere to surfaces and each other, creating an extracellular matrix that protects them from antibacterial agents and environmental stresses. This protective matrix allows bacteria to become highly resistant to antimicrobial treatments, which can make infections caused by these bacteria difficult to eliminate.

A study on wild mushroom extracts found that they have the capacity to inhibit in vitro biofilm formation by multi-resistant bacteria. The mushrooms used in the study were collected from forests in Kenya and included Auricularia auricula-judae, Microporus xanthopus, Termitomyces umkowaani, Trametes elegans, and Trametes versicolor. The extracts were tested against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus. The results showed that all the mushroom extracts presented some degree of inhibition of biofilm production, with M. xanthopus extracts having the most significant antibiofilm activities.

Another study tested the activity of Russula delica, Fistulina hepatica, Mycena rosea, Leucopaxilus giganteus, and Lepista nuda extracts against four Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Acinetobacter baumannii). The results showed that all the extracts exhibited some level of inhibition of biofilm production, with P. aeruginosa being the most susceptible to the extracts.

The promising results of these studies suggest that wild mushroom extracts could be a valuable tool in combating multi-resistant bacteria and inhibiting biofilm formation. Further research is needed to fully understand the mechanisms behind their antibiofilm properties and to identify the specific bioactive compounds responsible for their effectiveness.

Mushrooms could be a source of natural antimicrobials

The use of natural products has been extremely successful in the discovery of new medicines. Mushrooms could be a source of natural antimicrobials. Several studies have investigated the biofilm-inhibitory effects of wild mushroom extracts against harmful bacteria. The results obtained showed that all tested mushroom extracts presented some extent of inhibition of biofilm production. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was the microorganism with the highest capacity for biofilm production and was also the most susceptible to the extracts' inhibition capacity. Chloroform, 70% ethanol, and hot water extracts of A. auricula-judae (50 μg/mL) showed statistically significant antibiofilm activities against P. aeruginosa, E. coli, and S. aureus (p ≤ 0.05). M. xanthopus extracts (250 μg/mL) also revealed significant antibiofilm activities against each test bacterium (p ≤ 0.05).

Microorganisms can colonize a wide variety of medical devices, putting patients at risk for local and systemic infectious complications, including local-site infections, catheter-related bloodstream infections, and endocarditis. These microorganisms can grow and adhere to almost every surface, forming architecturally complex communities termed biofilms. The formation of biofilms can render bacteria extremely resistant to antimicrobial treatments. The damaging effects of antibacterial agents and environmental stresses are warded off by bacterial biofilms.

Considering the absence of cytotoxicity of the studied mushroom extracts, they can be safely incorporated into biomaterials used in catheters, prostheses, and other medical devices to avoid microorganism adhesion and biofilm production. The use of mushroom extracts in these devices could be a potential solution to the problem of antibacterial-resistant infections, which the medical community is increasingly dealing with.

Further research is required to determine the potential mechanism(s) of action of the extracts that are responsible for the apparent antibiofilm activity. The mechanism of action involved should be further studied to clarify the role of mushroom extracts in tackling the dual problematic of multi-resistance and high biofilm production.

Mushrooms may help combat drug resistance

The rise of antibacterial-resistant infections is a growing concern for the medical community. Evidence suggests that biofilms may be behind the resistance of certain infections to antibiotics. For instance, up to one-third of patients with strep throat do not respond to antibiotics, and biofilms have been detected in all 99 strep throat-causing bacterial isolates.

Biofilms are sessile communities of bacteria and/or fungi that share nutrients and DNA and undergo changes to evade the immune system. They are highly resistant to antimicrobial treatments and can render standard treatments ineffective.

Mushrooms may be a source of natural antimicrobials that can inhibit biofilm formation by multi-resistant bacteria. Wild mushrooms, in particular, have shown promising results in inhibiting biofilm formation. In one study, extracts of Auricularia auricula-judae, Microporus xanthopus, Termitomyces umkowaani, Trametes elegans, and Trametes versicolor were tested against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus. The results showed significant antibiofilm activities, with Microporus xanthopus extracts exhibiting the highest antibiofilm activity.

Another study examined the capacity of Russula delica, Fistulina hepatica, Mycena rosea, Leucopaxilus giganteus, and Lepista nuda extracts to inhibit biofilm formation by four Gram-negative bacteria: Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Acinetobacter baumannii. The results showed that all tested mushroom extracts presented some degree of inhibition of biofilm production, with Pseudomonas aeruginosa being the most susceptible to the extracts.

The absence of cytotoxicity in the studied mushroom extracts suggests that they can be safely incorporated into biomaterials used in catheters, prostheses, and other medical devices to prevent microorganism adhesion and biofilm production.

While the results are promising, further research is needed to determine the mechanism of action of the mushroom extracts and their potential in combating drug resistance.

Mushroom extracts can be used in catheters, prostheses, and other medical devices to avoid biofilm production

The use of natural products has been extremely successful in the discovery of new medicines, and mushrooms could be a source of natural antimicrobials. Wild mushroom extracts have been shown to inhibit biofilm formation by multi-resistant bacteria. This is significant because microorganisms can colonize a wide variety of medical devices, putting patients at risk for local and systemic infectious complications, including local-site infections, catheter-related bloodstream infections, and endocarditis. These microorganisms can grow adhered to almost every surface, forming architecturally complex communities termed biofilms.

Mushroom extracts can be used in catheters to avoid biofilm production. Catheters are a common medical device that can be a source of infection if biofilms are allowed to form. Several strategies have been proposed to control biofilm growth on catheters, including the use of topical antimicrobial ointments, minimizing the length of time of catheterization, using catheters with a surgically implanted cuff, and coating the catheter lumen with antimicrobial agents. However, these antimicrobial-loaded catheters have limitations, such as the rapid release of antibiotics and a relatively short persistence of antibacterial action. Mushroom extracts, on the other hand, have been shown to effectively inhibit biofilm formation without the risk of antimicrobial resistance.

Mushroom extracts can also be incorporated into prostheses and other medical devices to prevent microorganism adhesion and biofilm production. Prostheses and other medical devices, such as implants, can be susceptible to biofilm growth, which can lead to device failure and infection. By incorporating mushroom extracts into the biomaterials used for these devices, it may be possible to reduce the risk of biofilm-related complications.

The process of incorporating mushroom extracts into biomaterials involves extracting the mushrooms with a methanol:water mixture at low temperatures, followed by centrifugation, filtration, and evaporation to remove methanol. The extract is then lyophilized, redissolved in water, and stored for further use. This extract can be added to the biomaterials used for catheters, prostheses, and other medical devices to impart antimicrobial properties and prevent biofilm formation.

Auricularia auricula-judae, Microporus xanthopus, and other mushrooms have antibiofilm activities

Mushrooms have been found to exhibit antibiofilm activities, with the potential to combat drug resistance and aid in the production of new antibiotics. A study conducted on wild mushrooms from Kenya revealed that Auricularia auricula-judae, Microporus xanthopus, Termitomyces umkowaani, Trametes elegans, and Trametes versicolor exhibited significant antibiofilm activities against pathogenic bacteria.

Auricularia auricula-judae, also known as the jelly ear mushroom, has been extensively studied for its medicinal properties. Extracts of this mushroom, particularly chloroform, 70% ethanol, and hot water extracts, showed promising antibiofilm activities against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus. The biofilm-inhibitory effects were observed at concentrations as low as 50 μg/mL, indicating its potency.

Microporus xanthopus, another wild mushroom species, demonstrated strong biofilm-inhibitory effects against test microorganisms. All extracts of M. xanthopus at a concentration of 250 μg/mL exhibited significant antibiofilm activities against P. aeruginosa, E. coli, and S. aureus. This highlights the potential of M. xanthopus in combating bacterial biofilms.

In addition to the aforementioned species, Termitomyces umkowaani, Trametes elegans, and Trametes versicolor were also found to possess antibiofilm properties. While T. umkowaani extracts exhibited significant antibiofilm activities, the specific bacterial strains they were effective against were not mentioned. Trametes elegans, identified in the Arabuko-Sokoke National Forest, and Trametes versicolor, found in the Kakamega National Forest, contributed to the overall understanding of the antibiofilm capabilities of wild mushrooms.

The studies on these mushrooms provide valuable insights into the potential of mushroom extracts as inhibitors of bacterial biofilm formation. Further research is required to elucidate the mechanisms behind their antibiofilm activities and to explore their potential applications in medicine and biotechnology.

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