Analysis of the Metabolic Response of Planktonic Cells and Biofilms of Klebsiella pneumoniae to Sublethal Disinfection with Sodium Hypochlorite Measured by NMR

Klebsiella pneumoniae is a pathogenic agent able to form biofilms on water storage tanks and pipe walls. This opportunistic pathogen can generate a thick layer as one of its essential virulence factors, enabling the bacteria to survive disinfection processes and thus develop drug resistance. Understanding the metabolic differences between biofilm and planktonic cells of the K. pneumoniae response to NaClO is key to developing strategies to control its spread. In this study, we performed an NMR metabolic profile analysis to compare the response to a sublethal concentration of sodium hypochlorite of biofilm and planktonic cells of K. pneumoniae cultured inside silicone tubing. Metabolic profiles revealed changes in the metabolism of planktonic cells after a contact time of 10 min with 7 mg L−1 of sodium hypochlorite. A decrease in the production of metabolites such as lactate, acetate, ethanol, and succinate in this cell type was observed, thus indicating a disruption of glucose intake. In contrast, the biofilms displayed a high metabolic heterogeneity, and the treatment did not affect their metabolic signature.

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