Lemon Oils Attenuate the Pathogenicity of Pseudomonas aeruginosa by Quorum Sensing Inhibition

The chemical composition of three Citrus limon oils: lemon essential oil (LEO), lemon terpenes (LT) and lemon essence (LE), and their influence in the virulence factors production and motility (swarming and swimming) of two Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains (ATCC 27853 and a multidrug-resistant HT5) were investigated. The main compound, limonene, was also tested in biological assays. Eighty-four compounds, accounting for a relative peak area of 99.23%, 98.58% and 99.64%, were identified by GC/MS. Limonene (59–60%), γ-terpinene (10–11%) and β-pinene (7–15%) were the main compounds. All lemon oils inhibited specific biofilm production and bacterial metabolic activities into biofilm in a dose-dependent manner (20–65%, in the range of 0.1–4 mg mL⁻¹) of both strains. Besides, all samples inhibited about 50% of the elastase activity at 0.1 mg mL⁻¹. Pyocyanin biosynthesis decreases until 64% (0.1–4 mg mL⁻¹) for both strains. Swarming motility of P. aeruginosa ATCC 27853 was completely inhibited by 2 mg mL⁻¹ of lemon oils. Furthermore, a decrease (29–55%, 0.1–4 mg mL⁻¹) in the synthesis of Quorum sensing (QS) signals was observed. The oils showed higher biological activities than limonene. Hence, their ability to control the biofilm of P. aeruginosa and reduce the production of virulence factors regulated by QS makes lemon oils good candidates to be applied as preservatives in the food processing industry.     

焦测序法检测禽流感病毒

以焦测序技术为检测平台,在研究禽流感病毒基因特性的基础上,建立一种检测禽流感病毒及确定其是否为高致病性禽流感病毒的序列测定法。首先,选择一段保守的M基因序列及一段包含裂解位点的HA基因序列为研究对象,采用聚合酶链反应(polymerase chain reaction,PCR)扩增技术初步判断其是否为禽流感病毒及病毒亚型;然后采用焦测序法检测目的片段序列;最后,对焦测序法检测序列进行分析,从基因序列上判断其是否为禽流感病毒,并进一步判断病毒的亚型以及是否为高致病性禽流感病毒。研究结果表明,当焦测序反应中三磷酸酰苷双磷酸酶(Apyrase)的浓度为1.6U/mL时,能有效抑制错误信号的产生;当Klenow的浓度为90U/mL时,可读序列长度为33个碱基。采用优化的焦测序反应体系测定了4个样本,其中1个样本被判断为H5N1亚型禽流感病毒,具有潜在的高致病性;另外3个样本为H9N2型禽流感病毒,具有低致病性。本方法具有准确、快速和实时检测等优点。     

Lactoferrin and Its Derived Peptides: An Alternative for Combating Virulence Mechanisms Developed by Pathogens

Due to the emergence of multidrug-resistant pathogens, it is necessary to develop options to fight infections caused by these agents. Lactoferrin (Lf) is a cationic nonheme multifunctional glycoprotein of the innate immune system of mammals that provides numerous benefits. Lf is bacteriostatic and/or bactericidal, can stimulate cell proliferation and differentiation, facilitate iron absorption, improve neural development and cognition, promote bone growth, prevent cancer and exert anti-inflammatory and immunoregulatory effects. Lactoferrin is present in colostrum and milk and is also produced by the secondary granules of polymorphonuclear leukocytes, which store this glycoprotein and release it at sites of infection. Lf is also present in many fluids and exocrine secretions, on the surfaces of the digestive, respiratory and reproductive systems that are commonly exposed to pathogens. Apo-Lf (an iron-free molecule) can be microbiostatic due to its ability to capture ferric iron, blocking the availability of host iron to pathogens. However, apo-Lf is mostly microbicidal via its interaction with the microbial surface, causing membrane damage and altering its permeability function. Lf can inhibit viral entry by binding to cell receptors or viral particles. Lf is also able to counter different important mechanisms evolved by microbial pathogens to infect and invade the host, such as adherence, colonization, invasion, production of biofilms and production of virulence factors such as proteases and toxins. Lf can also cause mitochondrial and caspase-dependent regulated cell death and apoptosis-like in pathogenic yeasts. All of these mechanisms are important targets for treatment with Lf. Holo-Lf (the iron-saturated molecule) can contain up to two ferric ions and can also be microbicidal against some pathogens. On the other hand, lactoferricins (Lfcins) are peptides derived from the N-terminus of Lf that are produced by proteolysis with pepsin under acidic conditions, and they cause similar effects on pathogens to those caused by the parental Lf. Synthetic analog peptides comprising the N-terminus Lf region similarly exhibit potent antimicrobial properties. Importantly, there are no reported pathogens that are resistant to Lf and Lfcins; in addition, Lf and Lfcins have shown a synergistic effect with antimicrobial and antiviral drugs. Due to the Lf properties being microbiostatic, microbicidal, anti-inflammatory and an immune modulator, it represents an excellent natural alternative either alone or as adjuvant in the combat to antibiotic multidrug-resistant bacteria and other pathogens. This review aimed to evaluate the data that appeared in the literature about the effects of Lf and its derived peptides on pathogenic bacteria, protozoa, fungi and viruses and how Lf and Lfcins inhibit the mechanisms developed by these pathogens to cause disease.     

浙江省患病凡纳对虾副溶血弧菌的分离、鉴定及毒力基因分析

对浙江省发病凡纳对虾进行了弧菌分离、鉴定, 对分离菌株进行了API-20E生化鉴定, 不耐热毒素基因tlh、致病基因tdh、trh和毒力基因pir的PCR检测, 以及高致病性副溶血弧菌对小鼠致病性研究结果显示, 150个分离菌株中共检出tlh基因菌株61株(40.67%), ap阳性菌株21株(14.00%); 189个固定样品中检出副溶血弧菌阳性样品108个(57.14%), ap阳性样品24个(12.70%); 所有tlh阳性样品中均未检出tdh、trh毒力基因; ap阳性副溶血弧菌灌胃小鼠死亡率为20%, 且其培养上清液有弱溶血效价. 表明副溶血弧菌在浙江省凡纳对虾弧菌感染中占有重要地位, 高致病性副溶血弧菌在副溶血弧菌中占较高比例, ap阳性副溶血弧菌对小鼠具有一定毒力和溶血性.     

Andrographolide Inhibits Biofilm and Virulence in Listeria monocytogenes as a Quorum-Sensing Inhibitor

Listeria monocytogenes is a major foodborne pathogen that can cause listeriosis in humans and animals. Andrographolide is known as a natural antibiotic and exhibits good antibacterial activity. We aimed to investigate the effect of andrographolide on two quorum-sensing (QS) systems, LuxS/AI-2 and Agr/AIP of L. monocytogenes, as well as QS-controlled phenotypes in this study. Our results showed that neither luxS expression nor AI-2 production was affected by andrographolide. Nevertheless, andrographolide significantly reduced the expression levels of the agr genes and the activity of the agr promoter P₂. Results from the crystal violet staining method, confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) demonstrated that andrographolide remarkably inhibited the biofilm-forming ability of L. monocytogenes 10403S. The preformed biofilms were eradicated when exposed to andrographolide, and reduced surviving cells were also observed in treated biofilms. L. monocytogenes treated with andrographolide exhibited decreased ability to secrete LLO and adhere to and invade Caco-2 cells. Therefore, andrographolide is a potential QS inhibitor by targeting the Agr QS system to reduce biofilm formation and virulence of L. monocytogenes.     

Quorum sensing inhibitors from marine bacteria Oceanobacillus sp. XC22919

In this study, three active compounds isolated from Oceanobacillus sp. XC22919 were identified as 2-methyl-N-(2′-phenylethyl) butyramide (1), 3-methyl-N-(2′-phenylethyl)-butyramide (2) and benzyl benzoate (3), and were first reported to exhibit the apparent quorum sensing inhibitory activities against C. violaceum 026 and P. aeruginosa. Compounds 1–3 inhibited violacein production of C. violaceum 026 by 10.5–55.7, 11.2–55.7, and 27.2%–95.7%, respectively, and inhibited pyocyanin production of P. aeruginosa by 1.7–50.8, 39.1–90.7, and 57.2%–98.7%, respectively. The azocasein-degrading proteolytic rates of P. aeruginosa were observed by 13.4–31.5, 13.4–28.8, and 11.3%–21.1%, respectively. With respect to elastase, the range of inhibition of activity of compounds 1–3 was 2.1–30.3, 4.2–18.2, and 8.9%–15.7%, respectively. Compounds 1 and 3 also showed a concentration-dependent attenuation in biofilm formation, with the maximum of 50.6% inhibition, and 37.7% inhibition at 100 μg/mL, respectively.     

Molecular and genomic characterization of pathogenic traits of group A Streptococcus pyogenes

Group A streptococcus (GAS) or Streptococcus pyogenes causes various diseases ranging from self-limiting sore throat to deadly invasive diseases. The genome size of GAS is 1.85–1.9 Mb, and genomic rearrangement has been demonstrated. GAS possesses various surface-associated substances such as hyaluronic capsule, M proteins, and fibronectin/laminin/immunoglobulin-binding proteins. These are related to the virulence and play multifaceted and mutually reflected roles in the pathogenesis of GAS infections. Invasion of GAS into epithelial cells and deeper tissues provokes immune and non-immune defense or inflammatory responses including the recruitment of neutrophils, macrophages, and dendritic cells in hosts. GAS frequently evades host defense mechanisms by using its virulence factors. Extracellular products of GAS may perturb cellular and subcellular functions and degrade tissues enzymatically, which leads to the aggravation of local and/or systemic disorders in the host. In this review, we summarize some important cellular and extracellular substances that may affect pathogenic processes during GAS infections, and the host responses to these.     

In Vitro Investigation of the Impact of Bacterial–Fungal Interaction on Carbapenem-Resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae

Fungal–bacterial co-culturing is a potential technique for the production of secondary metabolites with antibacterial activity. Twenty-nine fungal species were screened in a co-culture with carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae at different temperatures. A temperature of 37 ° showed inhibition of bacterial growth. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing for K. pneumoniae was conducted to compare antibiotic resistance patterns before and after the co-culture. Genotypic comparison of the K. pneumonia was performed using next generation sequencing (NGS). It was shown that two out of five K. pneumoniae, with sequence type ST 101 isolates, lost bla-_OXA48, bla-_CTX-M-14, tir, strA and strB genes after the co-culture with Scopulariopsis brevicaulis fungus. The other three isolates (ST 383 and 147) were inhibited in the co-culture but did not show any changes in resistance. The total ethyl acetate extract of the fungal–bacterial co-culture was tested against K. pneumoniae using a disc diffusion method. The concentration of the crude extract was 0.97 mg/µL which resulted in total inhibition of the bacteria. Using chromatographic techniques, the purified compounds were identified as 11-octadecenoic acid, 2,4-Di-tert-butylphenol, 2,3-Butanediol and 9-octadecenamide. These were tested against K. pneumoniae using the well diffusion method at a concentration of 85 µg/µL which resulted in total inhibition of bacteria. The co-culture results indicated that bacteria under chemical stress showed variable responses and induced fungal secondary metabolites with antibacterial activities.