Fungal Extract of Lasiodiplodia pseudotheobromae IBRL OS-64 Inhibits the Growth of Skin Pathogenic Bacterium and Attenuates Biofilms of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus

BACKGROUND: The emergence of multidrug-resistant pathogens associated with biofilm formation can cause life-threatening infections to humans. Therefore, the present study aims to evaluate the effects of the fungal extract of Lasiodiplodia pseudotheobromae (L. pseudotheobromae) Industrial Biotechnology Research Laboratory (IBRL) OS-64 on bacterial cells and the biofilm formation of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). METHODS: Broth microdilution and semi-quantitative adherence assays were conducted to determine the anti-biofilm activity of the fungal extract. Light and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analyses were performed to observe the effect of the fungal extract on biofilm formation by MRSA. RESULTS: The transmission electron microscopy (TEM) microphotographs showed that the bacterial cells were severely damaged upon 24 h exposure to the extract and displayed several symptoms such as cell shrinkage and breakage. Meanwhile, results from the antibiofilm study indicated the extract attenuated the initial and preformed biofilms of MRSA by 80.82% and 61.39%, respectively. The initial biofilm was more sensitive to the extract compared to the pre-formed biofilm, as evidenced by the light microscopy and SEM observations that demonstrated more severe bacterial cell damage on the initial biofilms compared to pre-formed biofilms. CONCLUSION: The ethyl acetate extract of L. pseudotheobromae IBRL OS-64 significantly inhibited bacterial cells growth and eliminated biofilm formation by MRSA.