Inhibition of staphylococcal biofilm formation by nitrite
Open accessAbstract
Several environmental stresses have been demonstrated to increase polysaccharide intercellular adhesin (PIA) synthesis and biofilm formation by the human pathogens Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis. In this study we characterized an adaptive response of S. aureus SA113 to nitrite-induced stress and show that it involves concomitant impairment of PIA synthesis and biofilm formation. Transcriptional analysis provided evidence that nitrite, either as the endogenous product of respiratory nitrate reduction or after external addition, causes repression of the icaADBC gene cluster, mediated likely by IcaR. Comparative microarray analysis revealed a global change in gene expression during growth in the presence of 5 mM sodium nitrite and indicated a response to oxidative and nitrosative stress. Many nitrite-induced genes are involved in DNA repair, detoxification of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, and iron homeostasis. Moreover, preformed biofilms could be eradicated by the addition of nitrite, likely the result of the formation of toxic acidified nitrite derivatives. Nitrite-mediated inhibition of S. aureus biofilm formation was abrogated by the addition of nitric oxide (NO) scavengers, suggesting that NO is directly or indirectly involved. Nitrite also repressed biofilm formation of S. epidermidis RP62A.
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Nitrite can exert pH-dependent antimicrobial effects via formation of reactive secondary nitrogen oxides that can disrupt aerobic respiration, inhibit bacterial acid production, and disrupt biofilm formation.
“Nitrite can exert pH-dependent antimicrobial effects[204,232,233] via formation of reactive secondary nitrogen oxides that can disrupt aerobic respiration[234], inhibit bacterial acid production, and disrupt biofilm formation[235–237].”
From Enterosalivary nitrate metabolism and the microbiome: Intersection of microbial metabolism, nitric oxide and diet in cardiac and pulmonary vascular health (2017) · cites this paper as [235]
High salivary nitrite concentrations may exert antimicrobial effects elsewhere in the oral cavity and gut, possibly disrupting community composition or function of biologically beneficial populations of nitrate-reducing bacteria.
“Yet, despite these localized, periodontal effects on microbial populations, high salivary nitrite concentrations may also exert antimicrobial effects elsewhere in the oral cavity and gut, possibly disrupting community composition or function of biologically beneficial populations of nitrate-reducing bacteria[204,232–237].”
From Enterosalivary nitrate metabolism and the microbiome: Intersection of microbial metabolism, nitric oxide and diet in cardiac and pulmonary vascular health (2017) · cites this paper as [235]
Nitrite disrupts protective biofilm formation by pathogenic bacteria.
“Nitrite, for instance, disrupts protective biofilm formation by pathogenic bacteria and is currently under investigation as an adjunct to standard antibiotic therapy[235,236].”
From Enterosalivary nitrate metabolism and the microbiome: Intersection of microbial metabolism, nitric oxide and diet in cardiac and pulmonary vascular health (2017) · cites this paper as [235]
Nitrite is currently under investigation as an adjunct to standard antibiotic therapy.
“Nitrite, for instance, disrupts protective biofilm formation by pathogenic bacteria and is currently under investigation as an adjunct to standard antibiotic therapy[235,236].”
From Enterosalivary nitrate metabolism and the microbiome: Intersection of microbial metabolism, nitric oxide and diet in cardiac and pulmonary vascular health (2017) · cites this paper as [235]
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References 80 · Cited by 196
- Authors
- Schlag, S., Nerz, C., Birkenstock, T. A., Altenberend, F., & Götz, F.
- Affiliations
- University of Tübingen (DE)
- Microbial Genetics, University of Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
- Venue
- Journal of Bacteriology
- Publisher
- American Society for Microbiology
- Published
- 2007-11
- Volume
- 189
- Issue
- 21
- Pages
- 7911-7919
- ISSN
- 0021-9193 (ISSN-L)
- 1098-5530
- PMC
- PMC2168742
- OpenAlex
- W2168027235
- Cited by
- 196
- References
- 80
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 13 · 2022: 9 · 2021: 10 · 2020: 12 · 2019: 12 · 2018: 13 · 2017: 15 · 2016: 13 · 2015: 15 · 2014: 11 · 2013: 10 · 2012: 10
- FWCI
- 3.93
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- Journal of Bacteriology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Bacterial biofilms and quorum sensing
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Infectious Diseases › Antimicrobial Resistance in Staphylococcus
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Bacterial Genetics and Biotechnology
- Keywords
- nitrite, biofilm formation, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, polysaccharide intercellular adhesin, ICAR, nitric oxide, oxidative stress, nitrosative stress, gene expression regulation, biofilm eradication, DNA repair, iron homeostasis
- MeSH terms
- Bacterial Adhesion, Kinetics, Nitrates, Nitrites, Oxidation-Reduction, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Transcription, Genetic, Gene Deletion, Biofilms, Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization
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