Reduced microbial attachment by d-amino acid-inhibited AI-2 and EPS production

This study investigated the effect of d-tyrosine on microbial attachment to hydrophilic glass and hydrophobic polypropylene surfaces. Results showed that d-tyrosine did not influence microbial growth, ATP and substrate utilization, but significantly inhibited the synthesis of autoinducer-2 (AI-2), eDNA and extracellular polysaccharides and proteins, and subsequently reduced microbial attachment onto glass and polypropylene surfaces was observed. It was shown that d-amino acid would be a non-toxic agent for control of microbial attachment.

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► d-tyrosine reduced microbial attachment onto glass and PP surfaces.
► d-tyrosine did not influence microbial growth and substrate utilization.
► Inhibition of AI-2 and EPS by d-tyrosine was responsible for the reduced attachment.
► It provides a mean for biological control of microbial attachment on solid surfaces.