Open AccessEffect of azithromycin and phenylalanine-arginine beta-naphthylamide on quorum sensing and virulence factors in clinical isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Author(s) -
Amel Elsheredy,
Ingy El-Soudany,
Eglal Elsherbini,
Dalia Metwally,
Abeer Ghazal
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
iranian journal of microbiology.
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2008-4447
pISSN - 2008-3289
DOI - 10.18502/ijm.v13i1.5491
Subject(s) - pseudomonas aeruginosa , virulence , pyocyanin , quorum sensing , microbiology and biotechnology , biofilm , biology , azithromycin , rhamnolipid , minimum inhibitory concentration , efflux , antibiotics , bacteria , gene , biochemistry , genetics
Background and Objectives: Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a problematic opportunistic pathogen causing several types of nosocomial infections with a high resistance rate to antibiotics. Production of many virulence factors in P. aeruginosa is regulated by quorum sensing (QS), a cell-to-cell communication mechanism. In this study, we aimed to assess and compare the inhibitory effect of azithromycin (AZM) and EPI- PAβN (efflux pump inhibitor- Phenylalanine-Arginine Beta-Naphthylamide) on QS system and QS-dependent virulence factors in P. aeruginosa clinical isolates.
Materials and Methods: A total of 50 P. aeruginosa isolates were obtained from different types of clinical specimens. Isolates were investigated for detection of QS system molecules by AHL cross-feeding bioassay and QS-dependent virulence factors; this was also confirmed by detection of QS genes (lasR, lasI, rhlR, and rhlI) using PCR assay. The inhibitory effect of sub-MIC AZM and EPI PAβN on these virulence factors was assessed.
Results: All the P. aeruginosa, producing QS signals C4 HSL, failed to produce C4 HSL in the presence of sub-MIC AZM, In the presence of EPI PAβN (20 µg/ml) only 14 isolates were affected, there was a significant reduction in QS-dependent virulence factors production (protease, biofilm, rhamnolipid and pyocyanin) in the presence of either 20 µg/ml EPI or subMIC of AZM with the inhibitory effect of AZM was more observed than PAβN.
Conclusion: Anti-QS agents like AZM and EPI (PAβN) are useful therapeutic options for P. aeruginosa due to its inhibitory effect on QS-dependent virulence factors production without selective pressure on bacteria growth, so resistance to these agents is less likely to develop.