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Updated: May 28, 2026

Anti-virulent Disruption of Pathogenic Biofilms using Engineered Quorum-quenching Lactonases
07:47

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

Published on: January 1, 2016

Engineered Phage Modulates Quorum Sensing and Biofilm Formation in Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Domenico Franco1, Salvatore Papasergi2, Francesco Mediati1,3

  • 1Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences (ChiBioFarAm), University of Messina, Viale F. Stagno d'Alcontres 31, 98166 Messina, Italy.

Microorganisms
|May 27, 2026
PubMed

Insights

An engineered phage particle, P9b, selectively targets Pseudomonas aeruginosa virulence without killing bacteria. It disrupts quorum sensing (QS) and reduces biofilm formation, offering a novel antivirulence strategy.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Bacteriology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • * Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a Gram-negative pathogen causing persistent infections.
  • * Quorum sensing (QS) regulates virulence in P. aeruginosa, particularly in biofilms.
  • * Current treatments face challenges due to resistance and biofilm persistence.

Purpose of the Study:

  • * To investigate the antivirulence activity of an engineered M13-derived phage-display particle (P9b).
  • * To assess P9b's effect on P. aeruginosa quorum sensing and biofilm formation.
  • * To evaluate P9b's potential as a non-lytic antivirulence therapeutic.

Main Methods:

  • * Selection of P9b for specific binding to P. aeruginosa.
  • * Assessment of P9b's impact on bacterial growth and biofilm metabolic activity.
  • * Transcriptional analysis of QS regulators and virulence genes.
  • * Testing P9b activity against clinical isolates.

Main Results:

  • * P9b induced a transient delay in planktonic growth but did not affect long-term proliferation.
  • * P9b significantly reduced biofilm metabolic activity and pyocyanin production.
  • * Downregulation of QS regulators (lasI, lasR, rhlI, rhlR) and modulation of phenazine genes observed.
  • * P9b demonstrated efficacy against diverse clinical isolates.

Conclusions:

  • * P9b acts as a selective, non-lytic modulator of P. aeruginosa virulence.
  • * P9b effectively attenuates QS-regulated phenotypes and biofilm formation.
  • * Engineered phages represent a promising platform for antivirulence strategies against persistent infections.
Keywords:
P. aeruginosabiofilmphage-display technologyquorum sensing network

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