Antibacterial and Antibiofilm Activities of β-Lapachone by Modulating the Catalase Enzyme.

BACKGROUND

Bacterial infections constantly have a large impact on public health, because of increased rates of resistance and reduced frequency of development of novel antibiotics. The utility of conventional antibiotics for treating bacterial infections has become increasingly challenging. The aim of the study was to assess the antibacterial effect of β-Lapachone (β-Lap), a novel synthetic compound.

METHODS

The antibacterial activity of the β-Lap compound was examined against laboratory strains by agar well diffusion method and broth dilution assay. Growth kinetics in presence of β-Lap on , , and (ATCC 27853) were assessed by microplate alamarBlue assay. Crystal violet blue assay was used for biofilm inhibition and biofilm eradication. catalase (KatA) complexed with β-Lap was modeled using molecular docking approach.

RESULTS

β-Lap exhibited potent antimicrobial activity against laboratory strains of bacteria with MIC of 0.2 mM for and , and 0.04 mM for and ATCC 27853. The inhibition of catalase enzyme was found to be the cause for its antibacterial activity. Bioinformatics analysis suggests that β-Lap can inhibit KatA activity by interacting with catalase proximal active site and heme binding site. The activity of some commercial antibiotics was enhanced in association with β-Lap. In addition, β-Lap inhibited the biofilm formation and eradicated the already formed and ultra-mature biofilms of aforesaid bacterial strains.

CONCLUSION

These observations indicated that β-Lap could be a promising antibacterial agent for the treatment and prevention of infectious diseases.