Related Experiment Video

Updated: Sep 21, 2025

Development of a Polymicrobial Colony Biofilm Model to Test Antimicrobials in Cystic Fibrosis
07:16

Development of a Polymicrobial Colony Biofilm Model to Test Antimicrobials in Cystic Fibrosis

Published on: September 20, 2024

1.2K

Knocking down Pseudomonas aeruginosa virulence by oral hypoglycemic metformin nano emulsion

Salwa E Gomaa1, Ghada H Shaker1, Farag M Mosallam2

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

World Journal of Microbiology & Biotechnology
|June 1, 2022
PubMed

Insights

Metformin nanoemulsions effectively inhibit Pseudomonas aeruginosa virulence factors. Silver metformin nanoemulsions show potent gene expression inhibition but lack in vivo protection, while metformin nanoemulsions offer the best protection against infection.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Nanotechnology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Long-term antibiotic use promotes multi-drug resistance in Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
  • Anti-virulence agents offer an alternative strategy by targeting bacterial virulence factors.
  • Nanoparticle-based approaches show promise for inhibiting P. aeruginosa virulence.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the impact of metformin (MET), metformin nanoemulsions (MET-NEs), silver metformin nanoemulsions (Ag-MET-NEs), and silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) on P. aeruginosa virulence factors.
  • To assess the efficacy of these agents in inhibiting quorum sensing regulatory genes.
  • To determine the in vivo protective effects against P. aeruginosa infection.

Main Methods:

  • Phenotypic analysis of virulence factor expression.
  • RT-PCR to quantify the expression of quorum sensing regulatory genes (lasR, lasI, pqsA, fliC, exoS, pslA).
  • In vivo studies using a mouse model of P. aeruginosa infection.

Main Results:

  • MET-NEs demonstrated the highest virulence inhibitory activity phenotypically.
  • All tested agents significantly reduced the expression of quorum sensing genes, with Ag-MET-NEs being the most potent.
  • Ag-MET-NEs did not provide protection in vivo, whereas MET-NEs exhibited the highest protective activity against pseudomonal infection.

Conclusions:

  • Nano formulations, particularly Ag-MET-NEs, show potential for combating multidrug-resistant P. aeruginosa by inhibiting virulence factors and quorum sensing.
  • MET-NEs offer a promising therapeutic strategy due to their significant in vivo protective effects against P. aeruginosa infections.
Keywords:
MetforminNanoformulationsPseudomonas aeruginosaQuorum sensingSilverVirulence inhibition

More Related Videos

Evaluation of Antimicrobial Activities of Nanoparticles and Nanostructured Surfaces In Vitro11:52

Evaluation of Antimicrobial Activities of Nanoparticles and Nanostructured Surfaces In Vitro

Published on: April 21, 2023

3.3K
Studying Pancreatic Cancer Stem Cell Characteristics for Developing New Treatment Strategies07:29

Studying Pancreatic Cancer Stem Cell Characteristics for Developing New Treatment Strategies

Published on: June 20, 2015

19.8K

Related Concept Videos

Oral Hypoglycemic Agents: Biguanides and Glitazones01:26

Oral Hypoglycemic Agents: Biguanides and Glitazones

Biguanides, particularly metformin (Glucophage), are insulin sensitizers that enhance glucose uptake, thereby reducing insulin resistance. Unlike sulfonylureas, metformin doesn't prompt insulin secretion, which helps to curb hypoglycemia risk. Metformin is beneficial in treating conditions like polycystic ovary syndrome due to its insulin-resistance reduction capability. The drug's primary action involves curtailing hepatic gluconeogenesis, a significant contributor to high blood...
313
Gene Regulation in Microbial Communities: Quorum Sensing01:28

Gene Regulation in Microbial Communities: Quorum Sensing

Quorum sensing is a mechanism of bacterial communication that enables coordinated gene expression in response to changes in population density. This facilitates collective behaviors that enhance survival, resource acquisition, and ecological adaptation. This process relies on small signaling molecules called autoinducers that accumulate as bacterial populations grow. When a critical threshold concentration of autoinducers is reached, bacterial cells collectively modify gene expression,...
100
Oral Hypoglycemic Agents: α-Glucosidase Inhibitors01:19

Oral Hypoglycemic Agents: α-Glucosidase Inhibitors

α-glucosidase inhibitors, including acarbose (Precose), miglitol (Glyset), and voglibose (Voglib) (primarily available in Asia), are drugs that control blood sugar levels by delaying the digestion of starch and disaccharides. They achieve this by inhibiting α-glucosidase enzymes in the intestine, which slow the absorption of carbohydrates in the intestine, which in turn leads to a prolonged release of the glucoregulatory hormone GLP-1 from intestinal L-cells.
Acarbose and miglitol are...
280
Oral Hypoglycemic Agents: Glinides01:06

Oral Hypoglycemic Agents: Glinides

Repaglinide (Prandin) and Nateglinide (Starlix), known as glinides, are oral insulin secretagogues that stimulate insulin release from pancreatic β cells by closing the ATP-sensitive potassium channels (KATP channel). Repaglinide controls insulin release from pancreatic β cells by managing potassium efflux. It shares two binding sites with sulfonylureas and also has a unique site, indicating overlapping mechanisms of action. With a rapid onset and a 4-7 hour duration, it effectively...
276
Hypoglycemia and Glucagon01:15

Hypoglycemia and Glucagon

Without prolonged fasting, healthy individuals maintain blood glucose levels above 3.5 mM due to a well-adapted neuroendocrine counterregulatory system that effectively prevents acute hypoglycemia, a potentially life-threatening condition. The primary clinical scenarios for hypoglycemia encompass diabetes treatment, inappropriate production of endogenous insulin or insulin-like substances by tumors, and the use of glucose-lowering agents in non-diabetic individuals. Notably, hypoglycemia in the...
356