Control of quorum sensing and virulence factors of Pseudomonas aeruginosa using phenylalanine arginyl β-naphthylamide

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Anti-virulent Disruption of Pathogenic Biofilms using Engineered Quorum-quenching Lactonases
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Anti-virulent Disruption of Pathogenic Biofilms using Engineered Quorum-quenching Lactonases

Published on: January 1, 2016

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Soha El-Shaer1, Mona Shaaban1, Rasha Barwa1

  • 1Microbiology and Immunology Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mansoura University, 35516 Mansoura, Egypt.

Journal of Medical Microbiology
|August 9, 2016
PubMed

Insights

The efflux pump inhibitor PAβN restores antibiotic susceptibility in multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa. It also significantly reduces bacterial virulence by blocking quorum sensing and inhibiting key virulence factors.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Bacterial Pathogenesis
  • Drug Resistance

Background:

  • Multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa poses a significant clinical threat.
  • Bacterial efflux pumps are a primary mechanism for P. aeruginosa resistance.
  • Quorum sensing (QS) regulates P. aeruginosa virulence.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of the efflux pump inhibitor PAβN on QS and virulence in clinical P. aeruginosa isolates.
  • To determine if PAβN can re-sensitize P. aeruginosa to antibiotics.

Main Methods:

  • Clinical isolates of P. aeruginosa were obtained from urine and wound samples.
  • Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed using the disc diffusion method.
  • The effect of PAβN on QS molecules, virulence factors, gene expression, and bacterial viability was assessed.

Main Results:

  • PAβN enhanced susceptibility to multiple antimicrobial agents in multidrug-resistant P. aeruginosa.
  • PAβN reduced QS signaling molecules and key virulence factors (elastase, protease, pyocyanin, motility).
  • PAβN significantly downregulated the expression of QS genes and QS-regulated virulence genes, including exopolysaccharides.

Conclusions:

  • PAβN effectively inhibits the quorum sensing circuit and virulence factors in clinical P. aeruginosa isolates.
  • PAβN treatment renders P. aeruginosa hypo-virulent.
  • PAβN shows potential as a therapeutic agent for combating P. aeruginosa infections by targeting QS and virulence.

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