Reduction of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus biofilm growth and development using arctic berry extracts

Front Cell Infect Microbiol. 2023 Jun 23:13:1176755. doi: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1176755. eCollection 2023.

Abstract

Introduction: Surgical site infection remains a devastating and feared complication of surgery caused mainly by Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). More specifically, methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) infection poses a serious threat to global health. Therefore, developing new antibacterial agents to address drug resistance are urgently needed. Compounds derived from natural berries have shown a strong antimicrobial potential.

Methods: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of various extracts from two arctic berries, cloudberry (Rubus chamaemorus) and raspberry (Rubus idaeus), on the development of an MRSA biofilm and as treatment on a mature MRSA biofilm. Furthermore, we evaluated the ability of two cloudberry seed-coat fractions, hydrothermal extract and ethanol extract, and the wet-milled hydrothermal extract of a raspberry press cake to inhibit and treat biofilm development in a wound-like medium. To do so, we used a model strain and two clinical strains isolated from infected patients.

Results: All berry extracts prevented biofilm development of the three MRSA strains, except the raspberry press cake hydrothermal extract, which produced a diminished anti-staphylococcal effect.

Discussion: The studied arctic berry extracts can be used as a treatment for a mature MRSA biofilm, however some limitations in their use exist.

Keywords: antimicrobial; berry extract; biofilm; methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA); surgical infection.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Biofilms
  • Fruit
  • Growth and Development
  • Humans
  • Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus*
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Plant Extracts / pharmacology
  • Plant Extracts / therapeutic use
  • Staphylococcal Infections* / microbiology
  • Staphylococcus aureus

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Plant Extracts

Grants and funding

The research presented in the manuscript has got public funding from Business Finland and from internal funding of VTT and Helsinki University Hospital. J.E. received travel grants from Pfizer and conference fees from Biomérieux and Heraeus. The funders had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript, or in the decision to publish the results.