Enzymatic degradation of bacterial biofilms using Aspergillus clavatus MTCC 1323

Fungal strain, Aspergillus clavatus MTCC1323 under solid state fermentation was found to produce enzymes (protease, amylase and pectinase) having potential of degrading the biofilms of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus. Maximum specific enzyme activities were found to be 10.0, 8.0, and 10.086 U/mg for protease, amylase and pectinase, respectively, after 7 days of incubation at 27°C. Biofilms’ degradation was analyzed through FTIR technique. Various proteins and carbohydrates were involved in the formation of biofilms as their concentrations were reduced after enzyme mixture treatment. The degradation of the biofilms was analyzed by viability assay using flow cytometry and fluorescence microscopy. Maximum biofilm degradation was found against P. aeruginosa and B. subtilis biofilms and showed 82 and 75% biofilm reduction, respectively, in terms of dry cell weight. Flow cytometry viability assay results indicated that the enzyme mixture of A. clavatus was capable of degrading the bacterial biofilms.