86 research outputs found
Silencing the nosocomial pathogen Serratia marcescens by glyceryl trinitrate
Background: Quorum sensing is a cell-to-cell communication system in bacteria that controls the production of virulence factors. Serratia marcescens is a causative agent of hospital-acquired infections that shows high resistance to antibiotics. This makes the treatment of these infections difficult. Quorum sensing regulates the production of virulence factors of S. marcescens such as prodigiosin, protease, swimming and swarming motilities and formation of biofilms. Inhibition of quorum sensing may be an alternative to antibiotic treatment to avoid emergence of resistance.Objectives: Testing the ability of glyceryl trinitrate to inhibit quorum sensing and virulence factors of Serratia marcescens.Methods: The inhibiting activities of sub-inhibitory concentration of glyceryl trinitrate against the quorum-sensing regulated violacein pigment in Chromobacterium violaceum CV026 was performed to evaluate the anti-quorum sensing effect of glyceryl trinitrate. The anti-virulence activity was assessed against prodigiosin, protease, biofilm formation in addition to swimming and swarming motilities.Results: Glyceryl trinitrate at at a concentration of 0.25 mg/ml produced significant inhibitory effects against violacein (67.01%), prodigiosin (82.67%), protease, swimming (36.72%) and swarming (79.31%) motilities and biofilm formation (87.83%).Conclusion: Glyceryl trinitrate is a quorum sensing and virulence inhibitor that may be useful in treatment of nosocomial infections caused by Serratia marcescens.Keywords: Serratia marcescens, quorum sensing, virulence, glyceryl trinitrate
Repurposing metformin as a quorum sensing inhibitor in Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Background: Quorum sensing is a mechanism of intercellular communication that controls the production of virulence factors in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Inhibition of quorum sensing can disarm the virulence factors without exerting stress on bacterial growth that leads to emergence of antibiotic resistance.Objectives: Finding a new quorum sensing inhibitor and determining its inhibitory activities against virulence factors of Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 strain.Methods: Quorum sensing was evaluated by estimation of violacein production by Chromobacterium violaceum CV026. Molecular docking was used to investigate the possible binding of metformin to LasR and rhlR receptors. The inhibition of pyocyanin, hemolysin, protease, elastase in addition to swimming and twitching motilities, biofilm formation and resistance to oxidative stress by metformin was also assessed.Results: Metformin significantly reduced the production of violacein pigment. Significant inhibition of pyocyanin, hemolysin, protease and elastase was achieved. Metformin markedly decreased biofilm formation, swimming and twitching motilities and increased the sensitivity to oxidative stress. In the molecular docking study, metformin could bind to LasR by hydrogen bonding and electrostatic interaction and to rhlR by hydrogen bonding only.Conclusion: Metformin can act as a quorum sensing inhibitor and virulence inhibiting agent that may be useful in the treatment of Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection.Keywords: Metformin, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, quorum sensing, virulence inhibitio
Phenotypic and genotypic detection of antibiotic resistance of Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated from urinary tract infections
Bakground: Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a major nosocomial uropathogen. It can tolerate a wide variety of physical conditions and many antibiotics by different resistance mechanisms.Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the mechanisms of antibiotics resistance in uropathogenic P. aeruginosa clinical isolates.Methods: Two hundred sixty six urine samples were collected from Zagazig University Hospitals, Zagazig, Egypt. P. aeruginosa isolates were identified using standard microbiological tests. The sensitivity to different antibiotics was determined by disc diffusion method. Anti-microbial resistance mechanisms were investigated using phenotypic methods and confirmed by PCR.Results: Fifty P. aeruginosa isolates were recovered. All isolates were MDR and were resistant to amoxicillin/clavulinic, sulphamethaxzole/trimethoprim, doxycycline and ceftazidime. Phenotypic detection of resistance mechanisms revealed that all strains have efflux mechanism, outer membrane porins, and AmpC β-lactamase; none of the strains showed ESBL activity and two of the imipenem resistant strains showed MβL activity. PCR analysis showed that all strains have MexAB-R, OprD and AmpC genes, 42 strains had PSE gene, while VEB and VIM genes were not detected.Conclusion: The resistance rates in P. aeruginosa were higher than global values; this resistance was attributed to several mechanisms. This high resistance is alarming and necessitates applying strict antibiotic prescription policies.Keywords: Pseudomonas aeruginosa, urinary tract infections, antibiotic resistance, resistance mechanisms
Glyceryl trinitrate is a novel inhibitor of quorum sensing in Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Background: Targeting quorum sensing is an alternative approach to
antibiotics.Targeting quorum sensing-regulated virulence will disarm
the pathogen without exerting pressure on its growth. As a result,
emergence of resistance is avoided and the immune system can easily
eradicate bacteria. Objectives: Investigation of the possible
inhibition of quorum sensing-regulated virulence of Pseudomonas
aeruginosa by glyceryltrinitrate. Methods: The quorum sensing
inhibiting activity of glyceryl trinitrate was assessed by inhibition
of violacein production in Chromobacterium violaceum ATCC 12472. Its
ability to inhibit pyocyanin, protease, biofilm and tolerance to
oxidative stress was evaluated. Docking study was performed to study
the interference of glyceryl trinitrate with the binding of
autoinducers with LasR and rhlR receptors. Results: Glyceryl trinitrate
exerted a significant biofilm inhibiting and eradicating activities. It
decreased the production of quorum-sensing dependent violacein
production. It significantly inhibited the production of pyocyanin and
protease and diminished the tolerance against oxidative stress.
Molecular docking study showed that glyceryl trinitrate interferes with
the binding of autoinducers to their receptors. It could bind to Las
Rand rhlr receptors with binding energy of -93.47 and -77.23,
respectively. Conclusion: Glyceryl trinitrate can be an antivirulence
agent in the treatment of Pseudomonas aeruginosa topical infections
such as burn infections
Silencing the nosocomial pathogen Serratia marcescens by glyceryl trinitrate
Background: Quorum sensing is a cell-to-cell communication system in
bacteria that controls the production of virulence factors. Serratia
marcescens is a causative agent of hospital-acquired infections that
shows high resistance to antibiotics. This makes the treatment of these
infections difficult. Quorum sensing regulates the production of
virulence factors of S. marcescens such as prodigiosin, protease,
swimming and swarming motilities and formation of biofilms. Inhibition
of quorum sensing may be an alternative to antibiotic treatment to
avoid emergence of resistance. Objectives: Testing the ability of
glyceryl trinitrate to inhibit quorum sensing and virulence factors of
Serratia marcescens. Methods: The inhibiting activities of
sub-inhibitory concentration of glyceryl trinitrate against the
quorum-sensing regulated violacein pigment in Chromobacterium violaceum
CV026 was performed to evaluate the anti-quorum sensing effect of
glyceryl trinitrate. The anti-virulence activity was assessed against
prodigiosin, protease, biofilm formation in addition to swimming and
swarming motilities. Results: Glyceryl trinitrate at at a concentration
of 0.25 mg/ml produced significant inhibitory effects against violacein
(67.01%), prodigiosin (82.67%), protease, swimming (36.72%) and
swarming (79.31%) motilities and biofilm formation (87.83%).
Conclusion: Glyceryl trinitrate is a quorum sensing and virulence
inhibitor that may be useful in treatment of nosocomial infections
caused by Serratia marcescens
Zinc oxide nanoparticles inhibits quorum sensing and virulence in Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Background: Quorum sensing inhibitionis an advanced strategy that aims to interfere with bacterial cell-to-cell communication systems (quorum sensing), which regulate virulence factors production in Pseudomonas aeruginosa, in order to overcome the globalcrisis of antimicrobial resistance.Objectives: Study the potential quorum sensing inhibitory effect of Zinc oxide (ZnO)nanoparticlesin Pseudomonas aeruginosa and the impact on production of virulence factors.Methods: Quorum sensing inhibitory effect of ZnO was evaluated by assessing its ability to reducePseudomonas aeruginosa virulence factors production; rhamnolipids, pyocyanin, pyoverdin, hemolysins, elastase and proteases. Furthermore, qRT-PCR was performed to determine ZnO inhibitory effect onQS-regulatory geneslasI, lasR,rhlI, rhlR, pqsA and pqsR that control virulence factors secretion. Moreover, mice survival test was conducted to investigate the influence of ZnO on Pseudomonas aeruginosa-induced mortality in vivo.Results: ZnO revealed a statistically significant reduction in the production of QS-controlled virulence factors rhamnolipids, pyocyanin, pyoverdin, hemolysins, elastase and proteases. Furthermore, ZnO exhibited a significant decrease in the relative expression of QS-regulatory geneslasI, lasR,rhlI, rhlR,pqsA and pqsR. Additionally, ZnO significantly reduced the pathogenesis of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in vivoConclusion: ZnO nanoparticles can be used as a quorum sensing inhibitor in Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections either as an adjuvant or alternative to conventional antimicrobials.Keywords: Pseudomonas aeruginosa, ZnO, quorum sensing, virulence inhibition
Sensitizing multi drug resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolated from surgical site infections to antimicrobials by efflux pump inhibitors
Background: Staphylococcus aureus is a common hospital acquired
infections pathogen. Multidrug-resistant Methicillin-resistant
Staphylococcus aureus represents a major problem in Egyptian hospitals.
The over-expression of efflux pumps is a main cause of multidrug
resistance. The discovery of efflux pump inhibitors may help fight
multidrug resistance by sensitizing bacteria to antibiotics. This study
aimed to investigate the role of efflux pumps in multidrug resistance.
Methods: Twenty multidrug resistant S. aureus isolates were selected.
Efflux pumps were screened by ethidium bromide agar cartwheel method
and polymerase chain reaction. The efflux pump inhibition by seven
agents was tested by ethidium bromide agar cartwheel method and the
effect on sensitivity to selected antimicrobials was investigated by
broth microdilution method. Results: Seventy percent of isolates showed
strong efflux activity, while 30% showed intermediate activity. The
efflux genes mdeA, norB, norC, norA and sepA were found to play the
major role in efflux, while genes mepA, smr and qacA/B had a minor
role. Verapamil and metformin showed significant efflux inhibition and
increased the sensitivity to tested antimicrobials, while vildagliptin,
atorvastatin, domperidone, mebeverine and nifuroxazide showed no
effect. Conclusion: Efflux pumps are involved in multidrug resistance
in Staphylococcus aureus. Efflux pump inhibitors could increase the
sensitivity to antimicrobials
Repurposing metformin as a quorum sensing inhibitor in Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Background: Quorum sensing is a mechanism of intercellular
communication that controls the production of virulence factors in
Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Inhibition of quorum sensing can disarm the
virulence factors without exerting stress on bacterial growth that
leads to emergence of antibiotic resistance. Objectives: Finding a new
quorum sensing inhibitor and determining its inhibitory activities
against virulence factors of Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 strain.
Methods: Quorum sensing was evaluated by estimation of violacein
production by Chromobacterium violaceum CV026. Molecular docking was
used to investigate the possible binding of metformin to LasR and rhlR
receptors. The inhibition of pyocyanin, hemolysin, protease, elastase
in addition to swimming and twitching motilities, biofilm formation and
resistance to oxidative stress by metformin was also assessed. Results:
Metformin significantly reduced the production of violacein pigment.
Significant inhibition of pyocyanin, hemolysin, protease and elastase
was achieved. Metformin markedly decreased biofilm formation, swimming
and twitching motilities and increased the sensitivity to oxidative
stress. In the molecular docking study, metformin could bind to LasR by
hydrogen bonding and electrostatic interaction and to rhlR by hydrogen
bonding only. Conclusion: Metformin can act as a quorum sensing
inhibitor and virulence inhibiting agent that may be useful in the
treatment of Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection
Glyceryl trinitrate blocks staphyloxanthin and biofilm formation in Staphylococcus aureus
Background: Staphylococcus aureus is an important nosocomial bacterium
that is responsible for a number of infections that may be fatal. The
treatment of such infections is limited by emergence of antibiotic
resistance. Targeting virulence of Staphylococcus aureus may provide an
alternative option to antibiotic that may bypass the emergence of
resistant strains due to lack of stress on viability. Objectives:
Investigation of the ability of glyceryl trinitrate (GTN) to inhibit
staphyloxanthin, biofilm and tolerance to oxidative stress. Methods:
The disk sensitivity method was used to detect the methicillin
resistance of Staphylococcus aureus. The effect of sub-inhibitory
concentration of GTN on biofilm formation, staphyloxanthin production
and tolerance to oxidative stress was evaluated. Molecular docking
study was used to investigate the ability of GTN to bind to
dehydrosqualene synthase enzyme. Results: GTN showed a significant
inhibition of biofilm, staphyloxanthin and tolerance to oxidative
stress. In the molecular docking study, it was found that GTN could
bind to dehydrosqualene synthase enzyme by hydrogen
bonding,electrostatic interaction and pi-cation interaction.
Conclusion: The present study revealed the ability of GTN to serve as a
potential anti-virulence candidate for attenuation of S. aureus
pathogenicity. DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/ahs.v19i1.10 Cite as:
Abbas HA, Elsherbini AM, MA S. Glyceryl trinitrate blocks
staphyloxanthin and biofilm formation in Staphylococcus aureus. Afri
Health Sci. 2019;19(1). 1376-1384.
https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/ahs.v19i1.1
Phenotypic and genotypic detection of antibiotic resistance of Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated from urinary tract infections
Bakground: Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a major nosocomial uropathogen. It
can tolerate a wide variety of physical conditions and many antibiotics
by different resistance mechanisms. Objectives: This study aimed to
investigate the mechanisms of antibiotics resistance in uropathogenic
P. aeruginosa clinical isolates. Methods: Two hundred sixty six urine
samples were collected from Zagazig University Hospitals, Zagazig,
Egypt. P. aeruginosa isolates were identified using standard
microbiological tests. The sensitivity to different antibiotics was
determined by disc diffusion method. Anti-microbial resistance
mechanisms were investigated using phenotypic methods and confirmed by
PCR. Results: Fifty P. aeruginosa isolates were recovered. All isolates
were MDR and were resistant to amoxicillin/clavulinic,
sulphamethaxzole/trimethoprim, doxycycline and ceftazidime. Phenotypic
detection of resistance mechanisms revealed that all strains have
efflux mechanism, outer membrane porins, and AmpC \u3b2-lactamase;
none of the strains showed ESBL activity and two of the imipenem
resistant strains showed M\u3b2L activity. PCR analysis showed that
all strains have MexAB-R, OprD and AmpC genes, 42 strains had PSE gene,
while VEB and VIM genes were not detected. Conclusion: The resistance
rates in P. aeruginosa were higher than global values; this resistance
was attributed to several mechanisms. This high resistance is alarming
and necessitates applying strict antibiotic prescription policies
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