Ma Zhexiao, Qian Changrui, Zhong Zeyong, Yao Zhuocheng, You Congcong, Cao Jianming, Zhou Cui, Ye Jianzhong
Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Key Laboratory of Clinical Laboratory Diagnosis and Translational Research of Zhejiang Province, Wenzhou, China.
School of Laboratory Medicine and Life Science, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.
Front Microbiol. 2025 Jun 27;16:1547632. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2025.1547632. eCollection 2025.
Biofilms formed by () are a major challenge in clinical settings due to their resilience and contribution to persistent infections, especially in patients with indwelling medical devices. There is an urgent need for effective strategies to disrupt mature biofilms and control associated infections.
This study investigated the combined antibacterial activity and mature biofilm eradication efficacy of slightly acidic electrolyzed water (SAEW) and thymol against PAO1 through mature biofilm removal assays. The underlying antibacterial mechanism was explored by measuring intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels. The impact of the combined treatment on the expression of PAO1 virulence genes was assessed using RT-qPCR. Additionally, the safety of the combination was evaluated through acute dermal toxicity and ocular irritation tests in mice.
The combination of thymol and SAEW effectively disrupted mature biofilms, significantly reduced bacterial load on medical catheters, and enhanced ROS production. Furthermore, the treatment downregulated key virulence genes, and , which are critical for elastin degradation and pathogenicity. Safety assessments confirmed no acute skin or ocular toxicity, indicating its suitability for clinical applications.
Thymol-enhanced SAEW shows great potential as a safe and effective strategy for biofilm eradication and infection control, paving the way for innovative approaches to combat antimicrobial-resistant pathogens in healthcare settings.
由（）形成的生物膜是临床环境中的一个重大挑战，因为它们具有弹性且会导致持续性感染，尤其是在植入医疗设备的患者中。迫切需要有效的策略来破坏成熟的生物膜并控制相关感染。
本研究通过成熟生物膜去除试验，研究了微酸性电解水（SAEW）和百里香酚对铜绿假单胞菌PAO1的联合抗菌活性和成熟生物膜根除效果。通过测量细胞内活性氧（ROS）水平来探索潜在的抗菌机制。使用RT-qPCR评估联合治疗对PAO1毒力基因表达的影响。此外，通过小鼠急性皮肤毒性和眼刺激试验评估联合治疗的安全性。
百里香酚和SAEW的组合有效地破坏了成熟生物膜，显著降低了医用导管上的细菌载量，并增强了ROS的产生。此外，该治疗下调了对弹性蛋白降解和致病性至关重要的关键毒力基因和。安全性评估证实没有急性皮肤或眼部毒性，表明其适用于临床应用。
百里香酚增强的SAEW作为一种安全有效的生物膜根除和感染控制策略具有巨大潜力，为在医疗环境中对抗抗菌耐药病原体的创新方法铺平了道路。
