Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a hereditary disease caused by mutations in the gene encoding an epithelial anion channel. In CF, Cl- and HCO3- hyposecretion, together with mucin hypersecretion, leads to airway dehydration and production of viscous mucus. This habitat is ideal for colonization by pathogenic bacteria. We have recently demonstrated that HCO3- inhibits the growth and biofilm formation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus when tested in laboratory culture media. Using the same bacteria our aim was to investigate the effects of HCO3- in artificial sputum medium (ASM), whose composition resembles CF mucus. Control ASM containing no NaHCO3 was incubated in ambient air (pH 7.4 or 8.0). ASM containing NaHCO3 (25 and 100 mM) was incubated in 5% CO2 (pH 7.4 and 8.0, respectively). Viable P. aeruginosa and S. aureus cells were counted by colony-forming unit assay and flow cytometry after 6 h and 17 h of incubation. Biofilm formation was assessed after 48 h. The data show that HCO3- significantly decreased viable cell counts and biofilm formation in a concentration-dependent manner. These effects were due neither to extracellular alkalinization nor to altered osmolarity. These results show that HCO3- exerts direct antibacterial and antibiofilm effects on prevalent CF bacteria.
Keywords: bacteria; bicarbonate; biofilm; chronic inflammation; cystic fibrosis; mucus; pH.