A biofilm is an assemblage of microbial cells that is irreversibly associated (not removed by gentle rinsing) with a surface and enclosed in a matrix of primarily polysaccharide material. Noncellular materials such as mineral crystals, corrosion particles, clay or silt particles, or blood components, depending on the environment in which the biofilm has developed, may also be found in the biofilm matrix. Biofilm-associated organisms also differ from their planktonic (freely suspended) counterparts with respect to the genes that are transcribed. Biofilms may form on a wide variety of surfaces, including living tissues, indwelling medical devices, industrial or potable water system piping, or natural aquatic systems.
Lectins are powerful tools for the recognition of sugar molecules of wide range. They are monoclonal proteins (60,000MW – 100,000MW) which have distinguishable properties to bind specifically to sugar molecules and the ability to agglutinate or precipitate them. They bind reversibly to carbohydrates and agglutinate the polysaccharides and precipitate the glycoproteins. Lectins are found be present in all living organisms. Marine algae are rarely used as a source in the study of lectins even though humongous work has been reported about lectins from other sources. Lectins are powerful tools for the recognition of sugar molecules of wide range. They are monoclonal proteins (60,000MW – 100,000MW) which have distinguishable properties to bind specifically to sugar molecules and the ability to agglutinate or precipitate them. They bind reversibly to carbohydrates and agglutinate the polysaccharides and precipitate the glycoproteins. Lectins are found be present in all living organisms. Marine algae are rarely used as a source in the study of lectins even though humongous work has been reported about lectins from other sources.
In the present study we have performed some experiments to find the effect of total proteins from Ulva lactuca and Hypnea musciformis on the biofilm of four opportunistic bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus, Ecoli, Klebsiella, and Pseudomonas. 25-30% inhibition as well as dispersion of biofilm was found in the case of Klebsiella and Pseudomonas which could be because of lectins present in marine algal protein extract. Detailed study of this work is ongoing.
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