Frontiers in microbiology
4-Hydroxycoumarin inhibits biofilm formation and enhances antibiotic efficacy against Escherichia coli O157:H7
By Zhang H, Xu J, Zhou Y and 5 others.
Abstract
Background
Conventional bactericidal antibiotics often fail to eradicate Escherichia coli O157:H7 (E. coli O157) infections due to biofilm-mediated antimicrobial tolerance, and monotherapy can inadvertently drive resistance selection. This study aimed to identify compounds capable of modulating LuxS/AI-2-related phenotypes and to evaluate their potential to disrupt biofilms and enhance antibiotic efficacy against E. coli O157.
Methods
The effects of 4-HC on biofilm formation, extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) biosynthesis, and flagella-mediated motility were assessed in vitro. Antibiotic potentiation was evaluated through combination assays across multiple antibiotic classes. In vivo efficacy was tested in a murine systemic infection model, with qualitative histological observation used to evaluate splenic, hepatic, and ileal tissue damage.