Role of iron in biofilm formation

The aim of the proposed research is to study the role of iron in biofilm formation. Biofilms may form on living or non-living surfaces and can be prevalent in natural, industrial, and hospital settings. Microbes form a biofilm in response to a number of different factors, which may include recognition of an attachment site on a surface, and/or nutritional cues (e.g. cellular iron sources). Iron is essential for bacterial growth. From previous NSERC-funded research we have evidence that the novel iron chelator, DIBI, by our industrial partner, Chelation Partners Inc. (CPI) is capable to bind iron much stronger than any other available iron chelator and makes it unavailable for bacterial cells. Therefore, it seems possible to suppress bacterial biofilm formation by iron chelation. We will study the role of iron in biofilm formation in bacterial cell cultures in vitro and in a model of biofilm formation in vivo by administering bacteria (Pseudomonas aeruginosa) to lungs of mice. We will compare the novel iron chelator, DIBI, from CPI with already commercialized iron chelators (deferoxamine - DFO, deferiprone - DFP, deferasirox - DFX) using bacteriological methods and intravital imaging of bacterial growth in the lungs. We will also analyze tissue and plasma samples following administration of different iron chelators.