Efficacy of zerumbone against dual-species biofilms of Candida albicans and Staphylococcus aureus

Candida albicans and Staphylococcus aureus are the most common opportunistic pathogens that co-exist as mixed biofilms. Dual-species biofilms of C. albicans and S. aureus cause nosocomial medical device-related infections that are strongly resistant to antibiotics and host immune responses compared with mono-species biofilms. The purpose of this study was to describe the efficacy of zerumbone derived from Zingiber zerumbet (L.) Smith, on dual-species biofilm formation. This study examined the inhibitory effects of zerumbone on planktonic cell growth, adhesion and biofilm formation. The results demonstrated that zerumbone remarkably inhibited mono- and dual-species biofilms formed by C. albicans and S. aureus using the XTT [2,3-bis(2-smethoxy-4-nitro-5-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium-5-carboxanilide]-reduction assay. Furthermore, a significant decrease in biomass and cell density of dual-species biofilms following zerumbone treatment was confirmed using confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). Therefore, our study suggests that zerumbone is a potential antimicrobial and antibiofilm agent indicated for the therapeutic management of nosocomial medical device-related infections induced by dual-species biofilms of C. albicans and S. aureus.