EVALUATION OF SEA GRASS METABOLITES ON ADHESION AND BIOFILM FORMATION OF CLINICAL PATHOGEN ESCHERICHIA COLI

Abstract

Introduction: E.coli is a gram negative, straight rod measuring 1-3μm x 0.4 - 0.7μm, arranged singly or in pairs. It is motile by peritrichous flagella, though some strains may be non-motile. Capsules and fimbriae are found in some virulent strains. A complex structure known as biofilm is made up of related microbial cells that are bonded to surfaces and contained in a matrix of polysaccharides.

Aim: To evaluate Halophila ovalis seagrass metabolites on adhesion and the biofilm formation for a clinical pathogen Escherichia coli.

Materials and methods: Seagrass sample collection was shadow dried to achieve a powdered mixture which was mixed with 100mL of methanol to create an aqueous solution. The said extract was filtered with Whatmans paper and used for further anti-microbial assays

Results: The untreated biofilm of E.coli was treated with seagrass for a difference of 24 hours for 3 days and all the cells were found to be dead, confocal imaging showed dead cells after treatment.

Discussions: Similar research by Azizi et al., utilising the brown seaweed Sargassum muticum revealed the importance of bio active components like amino, sulphate, carboxyl and hydroxyl groups in biosynthesis process.

Conclusion: The population of microbes was reduced drastically, untreated deep orange became yellowish in colour. After 48 hours, there was destruction of dead cells. In confocal analysis, using the red filter, all cells were deemed dead.