Algal polysaccharide’s potential to combat respiratory infections caused by Klebsiella pneumoniae and Serratia marcescens biofilms

The growth of respiratory diseases, as witnessed through the SARS and COVID-19 outbreaks, and antimicrobial-resistance together pose a serious threat to humanity. One reason for antimicrobial resistance is formation of bacterial biofilms. In this study the sulphated polysaccharides from green algae Chlamydomonas reinhardtii (Cr-SPs) is tested for its antibacterial and antibiofilm potential against Klebsiella pneumoniae and Serratia marcescens. Agar cup assay clearly indicated the antibacterial potential of Cr-SPs. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC(50)) of Cr-SPs against Klebsiella pneumoniae was found to be 850 µg/ml, and it is 800 µg/ml in Serratia marcescens. Time-kill and colony-forming ability assays suggest the concentration-dependent bactericidal potential of Cr-SPs. Cr-SPs showed 74–100% decrease in biofilm formation in a concentration-dependent manner by modifying the cell surface hydrophobic properties of these bacteria. Cr-SPs have also distorted preformed-biofilms by their ability to interact and destroy the extra polymeric substance and eDNA of the matured biofilm. Scanning electron microscopy analysis showed that Cr-SPs effectively altered the morphology of these bacterial cells and distorted the bacterial biofilms. Furthermore reduced protease, urease and prodigiosin pigment production suggest that Cr-SPs interferes the quorum sensing mechanism in these bacteria. The current study paves way towards developing Cr-SPs as a control strategy for treatment of respiratory tract infections.