Objetives: Farnesol is a naturally-occurring sesquiterpene that was originally isolated from essential oils found in
many plants has been described to have antimicrobial potential against several bacteria, including S. epidermidis.
However, farnesol mechanism of action is not yet fully understood and some contradictory findings have been
reported. We recently described that while farnesol was not efficient at killing biofilm bacteria, a strong
reduction on biofilm biomass was detected, and we hypothesize that farnesol could be inducing biofilm
detachment. Here, we address this hypothesis.
Methods: To test our hypothesis we used 36 representative clinical strains of S. epidermidis from different parts
of the world and characterized them in terms of genetic variability, biofilm formation and on the effect of
farnesol on biofilm physiology and gene expression.
Results: Farnesol had no bactericidal effect on stationary phase populations equal or above 108 CFU/mL. In
exponential phase planktonic bacteria, farnesol showed a bacteriostatic effect after cell density reached 108
CFU/mL. In any of the growth phases studied, farnesol was effective in killing above 90% of bacteria in 4 h
when cell density was 107 CFU/mL or below.
Confocal microscopy and flow citometry analysis confirmed that in biofilms bacteria were not killed by farnesol
but nevertheless cell wall integrity was affected. Gene expression studies revealed differential responses to
farnesol, depending on the bacterial strain tested. Farnesol cell detachement from biofilms was also straindependent.
Conclusions: We found that while farnesol cannot kill high density bacterial communities, such as biofilms, it
was nevertheless able to induce biofilm detachment in 50% of the strains that formed biofilm
