Open AccessGallium induces the production of virulence factors in P seudomonas aeruginosa
Author(s) -
GarcíaContreras Rodolfo,
PérezEretza Berenice,
LiraSilva Elizabeth,
JassoChávez Ricardo,
CoriaJiménez Rafael,
RangelVega Adrián,
Maeda Toshinari,
Wood Thomas K.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
pathogens and disease
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.983
H-Index - 105
ISSN - 2049-632X
DOI - 10.1111/2049-632x.12105
Subject(s) - pyoverdine , virulence , pyocyanin , pseudomonas aeruginosa , microbiology and biotechnology , quorum sensing , gallium , biofilm , biology , siderophore , in vivo , antimicrobial , cystic fibrosis , proteases , virulence factor , chemistry , bacteria , enzyme , biochemistry , gene , genetics , organic chemistry
The novel antimicrobial gallium is a nonredox iron III analogue with bacteriostatic and bactericidal properties, effective for the treatment of P seudomonas aeruginosa in vitro and in vivo in mouse and rabbit infection models. It interferes with iron metabolism, transport, and presumably its homeostasis. As gallium exerts its antimicrobial effects by competing with iron, we hypothesized that it ultimately will lead cells to an iron deficiency status. As iron deficiency promotes the expression of virulence factors in vitro and promotes the pathogenicity of P . aeruginosa in animal models, it is anticipated that treatment with gallium will also promote the production of virulence factors. To test this hypothesis, the reference strain PA 14 and two clinical isolates from patients with cystic fibrosis were exposed to gallium, and their production of pyocyanin, rhamnolipids, elastase, alkaline protease, alginate, pyoverdine, and biofilm was determined. Gallium treatment induced the production of all the virulence factors tested in the three strains except for pyoverdine. In addition, as the Ga‐induced virulence factors are quorum sensing controlled, co‐administration of G a and the quorum quencher brominated furanone C ‐30 was assayed, and it was found that C ‐30 alleviated growth inhibition from gallium. Hence, adding both C ‐30 and gallium may be more effective in the treatment of P . aeruginosa infections.