The Effect of Selected Bee Products on Adhesion and Biofilm of Clostridioides difficile Strains Belonging to Different Ribotypes

Abstract

There is an ongoing search for alternative treatments for Clostridioides difficile infections. The aim of the study was to investigate the antibacterial and antibiotic activity of bee products against C. difficile strains with different polymerase chain reaction ribotypes (RTs). The minimum inhibitory concentration (MICs) of Manuka honey 550+, goldenrod honey, pine honey, and bee bread were determined by the broth dilution method. C. difficile adhesion to HT-29, HT-29 MTX, and CCD 841 CoN cell lines was assessed. Biofilm was cultured in titration plates and visualized by confocal microscopy. The MICs of Manuka honey for C. difficile 630 and ATCC 9689 strains and control strain, M 120, were 6.25%, 6.25%, and 1.56% (v/v), respectively; of goldenrod honey, 50%, 50%, and 12.5%, respectively; of pine honey, 25%, 25%, and 25%, respectively; and of bee bread, 100 mg/L, 50 mg/L, and 100 mg/L, respectively. Manuka honey (1%) increased adhesion of C. difficile RT176 strains, and one strain of RT023, to the CCD 841 cell line. Pine honey (1%) increased RT027 adhesion to the HT-29 cell line. Manuka honey, pine honey, and bee bread at subinhibitory concentrations increased the adhesion of C. difficile. Our research proved that bee products are active against the tested strains of C. difficile.