Potential Anti-Biofilm Applications of Tolaasin

As a major cause of nosocomial infections, biofilms such as those caused by Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis pose large concerns in the field of healthcare due to their extreme durability and resistance to treatment. While all biofilms grow similarly in a series of three stages: 1. Adhesion 2. Maturation 3. Dispersal, Staphylococcal species such as S. aureus and S. epidermidis make use of unique growth factors in order to form prolific and durable biofilms. Due to the prevalence and risks associated with bacteria, many antibacterial methods have been created to treat bacterial infections. Although many antibacterial methods exist, there is still a great need for additional and more effective methods to treat and prevent serious bacterial infections associated with biofilm growth, because incidences of bacterial infection and resistance, especially in medical settings, are on the rise. In recent research, the exotoxin tolaasin, produced by the bacterium Pseudomonas tolaasii has briefly been shown to exhibit antibacterial effects. Based on previous research and tolaasin's observed pore forming and detergent properties, it is hypothesized that tolaasin will disrupt and prevent staphylococcal biofilm growth either independently or synergistically with existing antibiotics. If this is confirmed, tolaasin may have major implications within the future of healthcare, particularly in the field of antibiotics. In order to optimally use tolaasin as an anti-biofilm agent, potential anti-biofilm applications would aim to prevent and treat biofilm infections at the most common sites of biofilm growth such as catheters, medical instruments, implanted medical devices, and surgical sites. In addition, under the assumption that tolaasin will be found effective in inhibiting biofilm growth and infection, this thesis proposes future anti-biofilm technologies that could use tolaasin as an anti-biofilm agent in order to prevent biofilms and associated infections. While there are many potential and promising ways that tolaasin could be used as an anti-biofilm agent in the future, there are still possible limitations that would need to be investigated through further research before these applications can come to fruition. Ultimately, if future research successfully determines that tolaasin can be used to make anti-biofilm technologies that are biocompatible, durable, and effective, then technologies using tolaasin as an anti-biofilm agent may more effectively ensure sterility of medical devices and prevent bacterial biofilms and infections, and may eventually save lives.