The human microbiota is comprised of trillions of bacteria, fungi, and viruses, including bacteriophages. The microbiota is a very complex ecosystem that exhibits dynamic stability with each of its components and the host organism. Impressively, there are greater than 10-times more bacteria within the human body than there are human cells.
The stability and dynamic equilibrium of the human microbiota is of primary interest to the HMI, as disturbance of this equilibrium can lead to variety of incurable pathologies, including certain types of cancers, metabolic disorders, and neurodegenerative disorders. A healthy microbiota is maintained via numerous factors. Notably, one of the most important and most poorly studied of these factors are the non-living genetic elements (NLGE), which are comprised of viruses, cell free DNA and RNA, and other compounds that play an important role in shaping the microbiome.
The study NLGE as regulators of microbiota maintenance is a critical next step for the future of medicine, and could lead to the discovery of fundamentally new ways to effectively prevent and treat human diseases.
We have already made initial breakthrough discoveries and are in the process of expanding our research in this area.
READ MORE ABOUT REGULATORS OF THE MICROBIOTA (NLGE)
Effect of DNase and antibiotics on biofilm characteristics
Antimicrobial agents and chemotherapy
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Effect of DNase and antibiotics on biofilm characteristics
| Publication Type |
Journal Article |
| Authors |
Tetz G
Tetz V |
| Abstract |
The role of extracellular DNA in the maintenance of biofilms formed by gram-
positive and gram-negative bacteria was studied. This study evaluated all the
bacterial strains that were tested for the presence of extracellular DNA with an
average size of 30 kb in the matrix. Our results indicate changes in community
biomass, architecture, morphology, and the numbers of CFU in the presence of
DNase. This effect seems to be common to biofilms established by various
unrelated gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. The cleavage of extracellular
DNA leads to the formation of an altered biofilm that permits the increased
penetration of antibiotics. Thus, the addition of DNase enhances the effect of
antibiotics, resulting in decreased biofilm biomass and numbers of CFU. |
| Year of Publication |
2009 |
| Journal |
Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy |
| DOI |
10.1128/AAC.00471-08 |
Effect of extracellular DNA destruction by DNase I on characteristics of forming biofilms
DNA and cell biology
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Effect of extracellular DNA destruction by DNase I on characteristics of forming biofilms.
| Publication Type |
Journal Article |
| Authors |
George Tetz
Victor Tetz |
| Abstract |
Biofilm formation plays a crucial role in the development of different infections.
This study was designed to examine the effects of extracellular DNA destruction
by DNase I on characteristics of forming bacterial biofilms. We have found that
extracellular matrix of biofilms formed in the presence of DNase I contains
extracellular DNA fragments of about 30 kb. These data support the idea that cell-
free DNA is constantly released to the extracellular matrix of bacterial biofilms.
Our results indicate that extracellular DNA plays an important role in the
properties of forming biofilms. Biofilms formed in the presence of DNase I
(5.0 μg/mL) displayed reduced biofilm biomass, total bacterial biomass, decreased
viability of bacteria, and decreased tolerance to antibiotics. The fact that
destruction of extracellular DNA in forming biofilms by DNase I leads to the
formation of an altered microbial community with decreased tolerance to
environmental factors suggests the possibility to change the characteristics of
forming biofilms by modifying cell-free DNA. |
| Year of Publication |
2010 |
| Journal |
DNA and Cell Biology |
| DOI |
10.1089=dna.2009.1011 |
Effect of DNase and antibiotics on biofilm characteristics.
Antimicrobial agents and chemotherapy(2009); 53:1204-9.
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Effect of extracellular DNA destruction by DNase I on characteristics of forming biofilms.
DNA and cell biology (2010); 29:399-405.
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