Antibacterial and Antibiofilm Effects of Boron on Different Bacteria

Boron (B) compounds are used in many fields ranging from medicine to industry. In this study, boric acid (BA) and disodium octaborate tetrahydrate (DOT) were evaluated for their antibacterial effects and antibiofilm capacities on selected strains of clinical and type cultures that are of veterinary concern (Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923, Aeromonas hydrophila ATCC 19570, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853, Brucella melitensis Rev1 and field isolates of Vibrio anguillarum, Aeromonas hydrophila, Yersinia ruckeri, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Lactococcus garvieae, and Brucella abortus). Also, the inhibition of biofilm was monitored by scanning electron microscopy. The lowest MIC values of BA and DOT were measured, by broth method using microdilution, from Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853, and were 0.385 and 0.644 mg/ml, respectively. Staphylococcus aureus was the most resistant to both BA and DOT. Using the microplate method, we observed that the strongest positivities for biofilm production were presented by Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853 and also a clinical isolate of Lactococcus garviea. Lower values in the MIC scores for both B compounds were tested by measuring the inhibitory effect on biofilm production. We found that all the bacterial strains inhibited biofilm formation with the exception of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains for BA only and an isolate of Lactococcus garviea for DOT only. Such effects by BA and DOT are worth discussing in order to find novel approaches for different functions in medicine and industry using the bacteria tested.