Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 16, 2026

Quantification of Violacein in Chromobacterium violaceum and Its Inhibition by Bioactive Compounds
Published on: August 8, 2025
Natural Products Inhibit Bacterial Growth and Modulate Quorum-Sensing Systems Las and Rhl in Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Oswaldo Pablo Martínez-Rodríguez1, Rodolfo García-Contreras2, Rodrigo Aguayo-Ortiz1
1Departamento De Farmacia, Facultad de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma De México, Ciudad de México, México.
None:
Quorum sensing (QS) is a bacterial cell communication system in Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which regulates the production of several virulence factors, including pyocyanin, exoproteases, and biofilm formation. Natural products (NPs) have demonstrated their ability to control QS in different bacteria. This work evaluated the antimicrobial and anti-QS potential of a small library of NPs from Mexican biodiversity against P. aeruginosa PA14. Alternariol 4-methyl ether (12), iridoskyrin (17), and 5,8-epi-dioxyergosta-6,9(11),22-trien-3-ol (39) showed the most potent antimicrobial activity at both test concentrations. Regarding anti-QS activity, fuscin (13), neosartorin (18), 8'-hydroxy zearalenone (21), penicillic acid (26), 5,6-dehydroxypenicillic acid (27), pitholide B (36), and citrinin (38) inhibited pyocyanin production, exoproteases activity, and biofilm formation at the lowest concentration without significantly altering growth. Subsequently, in silico studies of deep-learning molecular docking and molecular dynamics indicated the putative mechanism of action of these compounds through their binding to the ligand-binding domains of LasR and RhlR, target proteins that control QS systems. These results demonstrate that NPs, such as pitholide B (36) and citrinin (38), are potential candidates against P. aeruginosa.
Related Concept Videos
Gene Regulation in Microbial Communities: Quorum Sensing
Biological Methods for Microbial Control
Bacterial Signaling
Antimicrobial Proteins
Interferons
Interferons (IFNs) are proteins produced by lymphocytes, macrophages, and fibroblasts infected with viruses. While IFNs cannot prevent viruses from entering and...
Chemical Agents for Microbial Control
Types of RNA
Three main types of RNA are involved in protein synthesis: messenger RNA (mRNA), transfer RNA (tRNA), and ribosomal RNA (rRNA). These RNAs perform diverse functions and can be broadly classified as protein-coding or non-coding RNA. Non-coding RNAs play important roles in the regulation of gene expression in response to developmental and environmental changes. Non-coding RNAs in prokaryotes can be manipulated to develop more effective antibacterial drugs for human or animal use.
RNA...

