Bactericidal Effect and Mechanism of Polyhexamethylene Biguanide (PHMB) on Pathogenic Bacteria in Marine Aquaculture

Guanidine disinfectants are cationic polymers recognized for their effective sterilization properties and their ability to prevent bacterial resistance. As a result, they are widely utilized in medical, healthcare, household, and animal husbandry settings. However, the bactericidal effects and mecha...

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Main Authors: Lanting Wu, Chunyuan Wang, Yingeng Wang, Yongxiang Yu, Zheng Zhang, Cuiping Ma, Xiaojun Rong, Ling Chen, Meijie Liao, Yapeng Yang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-04-01
Series:Biology
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2079-7737/14/5/470
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author Lanting Wu
Chunyuan Wang
Yingeng Wang
Yongxiang Yu
Zheng Zhang
Cuiping Ma
Xiaojun Rong
Ling Chen
Meijie Liao
Yapeng Yang
author_facet Lanting Wu
Chunyuan Wang
Yingeng Wang
Yongxiang Yu
Zheng Zhang
Cuiping Ma
Xiaojun Rong
Ling Chen
Meijie Liao
Yapeng Yang
author_sort Lanting Wu
collection DOAJ
description Guanidine disinfectants are cationic polymers recognized for their effective sterilization properties and their ability to prevent bacterial resistance. As a result, they are widely utilized in medical, healthcare, household, and animal husbandry settings. However, the bactericidal effects and mechanisms of guanidine in marine aquaculture systems remain unclear due to the polymeric nature of guanidine ions and the complexity of marine environments. The inhibitory effects and bactericidal mechanisms of polyhexamethylene biguanide (PHMB) on key pathogens and probiotics are examined in this study. It was shown that PHMB had inhibitory effects on <i>Vibrio parahaemolyticus</i> (VP), <i>Photobacterium damselae</i> subsp. <i>damselae</i> (PDD), <i>Bacillus subtilis</i> (BS), <i>Escherichia coli</i> (EPEC), and <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> (SAU), with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) ranging from 3.91 to 125.0 µg/mL, and minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBCs) from 15.63 to 250.0 µg/mL. A stronger bactericidal effect of PHMB on marine bacteria compared to EPEC and SAU was exhibited. It was shown in ion interference experiments that the addition of calcium ions reduced the bactericidal effectiveness of PHMB against VP and PDD by 87.73% and 53.35%, respectively. At a PHMB concentration of 62.50 µg/mL, minor changes in cell surface potential energy (CSPE) were exhibited by Gram-positive bacteria (SAU and BS), while more significant alterations were shown by Gram-negative pathogens. It was revealed by propidium iodide staining and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis that the bacterial cell membrane was directly disrupted by PHMB. DNA and RNA release analysis further revealed that following PHMB treatment, changes in membrane permeability were exhibited by Gram-negative pathogens, with a significant increase in extracellular DNA content as PHMB concentration increased. No such effect was observed in Gram-positive bacteria. Additional evidence was provided by the findings that PHMB effectively inhibits bacterial pathogens in mariculture systems, with a significantly stronger inhibitory effect on Gram-negative pathogens than on Gram-positive bacteria. These results indicated that PHMB could serve as a new antimicrobial agent in mariculture.
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spelling doaj-art-b868b59c8f72467387d92cbf7f985f322025-08-20T01:56:20ZengMDPI AGBiology2079-77372025-04-0114547010.3390/biology14050470Bactericidal Effect and Mechanism of Polyhexamethylene Biguanide (PHMB) on Pathogenic Bacteria in Marine AquacultureLanting Wu0Chunyuan Wang1Yingeng Wang2Yongxiang Yu3Zheng Zhang4Cuiping Ma5Xiaojun Rong6Ling Chen7Meijie Liao8Yapeng Yang9College of Biological Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266042, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Mariculture Biobreeding and Sustainable Goods, Yellow Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academic of Fishery Sciences, Qingdao 266071, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Mariculture Biobreeding and Sustainable Goods, Yellow Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academic of Fishery Sciences, Qingdao 266071, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Mariculture Biobreeding and Sustainable Goods, Yellow Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academic of Fishery Sciences, Qingdao 266071, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Mariculture Biobreeding and Sustainable Goods, Yellow Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academic of Fishery Sciences, Qingdao 266071, ChinaCollege of Biological Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266042, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Mariculture Biobreeding and Sustainable Goods, Yellow Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academic of Fishery Sciences, Qingdao 266071, ChinaShandong Center for Quality Control of Feed and Veterinary Drugs, Jinan 250109, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Mariculture Biobreeding and Sustainable Goods, Yellow Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academic of Fishery Sciences, Qingdao 266071, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Mariculture Biobreeding and Sustainable Goods, Yellow Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academic of Fishery Sciences, Qingdao 266071, ChinaGuanidine disinfectants are cationic polymers recognized for their effective sterilization properties and their ability to prevent bacterial resistance. As a result, they are widely utilized in medical, healthcare, household, and animal husbandry settings. However, the bactericidal effects and mechanisms of guanidine in marine aquaculture systems remain unclear due to the polymeric nature of guanidine ions and the complexity of marine environments. The inhibitory effects and bactericidal mechanisms of polyhexamethylene biguanide (PHMB) on key pathogens and probiotics are examined in this study. It was shown that PHMB had inhibitory effects on <i>Vibrio parahaemolyticus</i> (VP), <i>Photobacterium damselae</i> subsp. <i>damselae</i> (PDD), <i>Bacillus subtilis</i> (BS), <i>Escherichia coli</i> (EPEC), and <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> (SAU), with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) ranging from 3.91 to 125.0 µg/mL, and minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBCs) from 15.63 to 250.0 µg/mL. A stronger bactericidal effect of PHMB on marine bacteria compared to EPEC and SAU was exhibited. It was shown in ion interference experiments that the addition of calcium ions reduced the bactericidal effectiveness of PHMB against VP and PDD by 87.73% and 53.35%, respectively. At a PHMB concentration of 62.50 µg/mL, minor changes in cell surface potential energy (CSPE) were exhibited by Gram-positive bacteria (SAU and BS), while more significant alterations were shown by Gram-negative pathogens. It was revealed by propidium iodide staining and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis that the bacterial cell membrane was directly disrupted by PHMB. DNA and RNA release analysis further revealed that following PHMB treatment, changes in membrane permeability were exhibited by Gram-negative pathogens, with a significant increase in extracellular DNA content as PHMB concentration increased. No such effect was observed in Gram-positive bacteria. Additional evidence was provided by the findings that PHMB effectively inhibits bacterial pathogens in mariculture systems, with a significantly stronger inhibitory effect on Gram-negative pathogens than on Gram-positive bacteria. These results indicated that PHMB could serve as a new antimicrobial agent in mariculture.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-7737/14/5/470mariculturepolyhexamethylene biguanide (PHMB)bactericidal effectbactericidal mechanism<i>Vibrio</i><i>Bacillus</i>
spellingShingle Lanting Wu
Chunyuan Wang
Yingeng Wang
Yongxiang Yu
Zheng Zhang
Cuiping Ma
Xiaojun Rong
Ling Chen
Meijie Liao
Yapeng Yang
Bactericidal Effect and Mechanism of Polyhexamethylene Biguanide (PHMB) on Pathogenic Bacteria in Marine Aquaculture
Biology
mariculture
polyhexamethylene biguanide (PHMB)
bactericidal effect
bactericidal mechanism
<i>Vibrio</i>
<i>Bacillus</i>
title Bactericidal Effect and Mechanism of Polyhexamethylene Biguanide (PHMB) on Pathogenic Bacteria in Marine Aquaculture
title_full Bactericidal Effect and Mechanism of Polyhexamethylene Biguanide (PHMB) on Pathogenic Bacteria in Marine Aquaculture
title_fullStr Bactericidal Effect and Mechanism of Polyhexamethylene Biguanide (PHMB) on Pathogenic Bacteria in Marine Aquaculture
title_full_unstemmed Bactericidal Effect and Mechanism of Polyhexamethylene Biguanide (PHMB) on Pathogenic Bacteria in Marine Aquaculture
title_short Bactericidal Effect and Mechanism of Polyhexamethylene Biguanide (PHMB) on Pathogenic Bacteria in Marine Aquaculture
title_sort bactericidal effect and mechanism of polyhexamethylene biguanide phmb on pathogenic bacteria in marine aquaculture
topic mariculture
polyhexamethylene biguanide (PHMB)
bactericidal effect
bactericidal mechanism
<i>Vibrio</i>
<i>Bacillus</i>
url https://www.mdpi.com/2079-7737/14/5/470
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