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Research Article Volume 7 Issue 6
Hydrolytic enzymes (proteases and lipases) released by biofilm-forming cells of Scedosporium/Lomentospora species
Thais P Mello, Iuri C Barcellos, Marta H Branquinha, Andre LS Santos
Laboratorio de Estudos Avancados de Microrganismos Emergentes e Resistentes, Departamento de Microbiologia Geral, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Goes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Instituto Federal de Educacao, Ciencia e Tecnologia do Rio de Janeiro (IFRJ), Brazil
Programa de Pos-Graduacao em Bioquimica, Instituto de Quimica, UFRJ, Brazil
Received: November 08, 2019 | Published: December 17, 2019
Citation: Mello TP, Barcellos IC, Branquinha MH, et al. Hydrolytic enzymes (proteases and lipases) released by biofilm-forming cells of Scedosporium/ Lomentospora species. J Microbiol Exp. 2019;7(6):313-316. DOI: 10.15406/jmen.2019.07.00277
Abstract
Introduction and objective: Scedosporium/Lomentospora species are filamentous fungi forming biofilms in both biotic and abiotic surfaces and are commonly associated with humans. However, little is known about the ability of these fungi to release molecules into the biofilm environment. In this context, the present study is aimed to detect hydrolytic enzymes, proteases and lipases, in the supernatants obtained from biofilm-forming cells of S. apiospermum, S. minutisporum, S. aurantiacum and L. prolificans (formerly S. prolificans).
Materials and methods: Biofilms were formed through incubation of Scedosporium and Lomentospora conidial cells for 72hours over a polystyrene surface and validated by classical biomarkers (biomass, extracellular matrix and viability). In parallel, the cell-free biofilm supernatants were harvested in order to measure the activity of secreted hydrolytic enzymes, proteases and lipases. Azoalbumin and azocasein were used as proteinaceous substrates, while 4-methylumbelliferyl butyrate, 4-methylumbelliferyl heptanoate and 4-methylumbelliferyl oleate were used as lipid substrates.
Results: As previously reported, mature biofilms formed by Scedosporium/Lomentospora species were confirmed by the presence of a dense mycelial mass covering the polystyrene surface. Protease and lipase activities were detected in the biofilm-derived supernatants of all fungi studied. Regarding the protease, similar cleavages were observed for both azo-substrates, conjugated to albumin and casein, with an overall predilection to neutral-alkaline pH.Concerning the lipase, substrates containing lipids with small, medium and large carbonic chains were degraded, with different predilection according to the fungal species.
The inferences: Collectively, the results suggest the presence of distinct proteases and lipases secreted by biofilm-growing cells of S. apiospermum, S. minutisporum, S. aurantiacum and L. prolificans.
Keywords: Scedosporium, Lomentospora, biofilm, proteases, lipases, secretion
©2019 Mello, et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and build upon your work non-commercially.