N,N,N′,N′-tetrakis(2-pyridylmethyl)ethylenediamine, a zinc chelator, inhibits biofilm and hyphal formation in Trichosporon asahii

• DOI: 10.1186/s13104-020-04990-x
• Publication Date: 2020-03-10T09:03:33Z
• Authors: Sanae Kurakado; Ryota Chiba; Chisato Sato; Yasuhiko Matsumoto; Takashi Sugita
• Keywords: 0301 basic medicine; N,N,N′,N′-tetrakis(2-pyridylmethyl)ethylenediamine; Trichosporon asahii; Science (General); QH301-705.5; Biofilm; R; Hyphae; Chelator; Ethylenediamines; 3. Good health; Q1-390; Research Note; Zinc; 03 medical and health sciences; Trichosporon; Biofilms; Medicine; Biology (General); Chelating Agents

AbstractObjectiveTrichosporon asahiiis the major causative fungus of disseminated or deep-seated trichosporonosis and forms a biofilm on medical devices. Biofilm formation leads to antifungal drug resistance, so biofilm-related infections are relatively difficult to treat and infected devices often require surgical removal. Therefore, prevention of biofilm formation is important in clinical settings. In this study, to identify metal cations that affect biofilm formation, we evaluated the effects of cation chelators on biofilm formation inT. asahii.ResultsWe evaluated the effect of cation chelators on biofilm formation, since microorganisms must assimilate essential nutrients from their hosts to form and maintain biofilms. The inhibition byN,N,N′,N′-tetrakis(2-pyridylmethyl)ethylenediamine (TPEN) was greater than those by other cation chelators, such as deferoxamine, triethylenetetramine, and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid. The inhibitory effect of TPEN was suppressed by the addition of zinc. TPEN also inhibitedT. asahiihyphal formation, which is related to biofilm formation, and the inhibition was suppressed by the addition of zinc. These results suggest that zinc is essential for biofilm formation and hyphal formation. Thus, zinc chelators have the potential to be developed into a new treatment for biofilm-related infection caused byT. asahii.