Biofilm-mediated resistance to berberine in .

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the mechanism of biofilm-mediated resistance to berberine in .

METHODS

The resistance of berberine against was induced by 1/2 MIC (minimum inhibitory concentration). Biofilm formation was detected by crystal violet staining. The mRNA level was detected by RT-qPCR, and the gene was determined. the -overexpressed strain was constructed. We measured the MIC of berberine against , as well as biofilm formation and the expression of mRNA.

RESULTS

The MIC after berberine induction was more than 32 times than the MIC before induction. the biofilm was significantly increased at 24, 48 and 72 hours (<0.01) after berberine induction. In addition, the amount of biofilm production at 24, 48 and 72 hours was 1.3, 1.51 and 1.98 times after berberine induction than that before induction, respectively. The expression of gene was significantly increased (=0.016) after induction compared with that before induction. the MIC of overexpressed strain was about 5.8 times that before induction. The expression of gene was significantly increased (=0.016), which was 5.8 times higher than that before induction. The MIC of overexpressed strain was 100 μg/mL. Biofilm formation in csgD-overexpressed strain was 2.9 times higher than that of the control. The expression of biofilm-related genes, , and , was 45, 22.5 and 1628 times higher than that of the control, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Berberine might increase biofilm formation by inducing the expression of gene, which might result in drug resistance in .