Differential effects of alkyl gallates on quorum sensing in Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Sci Rep. 2019 May 23;9(1):7741. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-44236-w.

Abstract

Virulence factors and biofilms constitute attractive targets for the prevention of infections caused by multidrug-resistant bacteria. Among alkyl gallates, propyl gallate (PG) and octyl gallate (OG) are used as food preservatives. Here we found that alkyl gallates differentially affect virulence, biofilm formation, and quorum sensing (QS) in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Ethyl gallate (EG), PG, and butyl gallate (BG) inhibited biofilm formation and virulence factors including elastase, pyocyanin, and rhamnolipid, in P. aeruginosa without affecting cell viability by antagonizing the QS receptors LasR and RhlR. PG exhibited the most potent activity. Interestingly, hexyl gallate (HG) inhibited the production of rhamnolipid and pyocyanin but did not affect elastase production or biofilm formation. Notably, OG inhibited the production of rhamnolipid and pyocyanin but stimulated elastase production and biofilm formation. Analysis of QS signaling molecule production and QS gene expression suggested that HG inhibited RhlR, while OG activated LasR but inhibited PqsR. This mechanism was confirmed using QS mutants. Additionally, PG prevented the virulence of P. aeruginosa in Caenorhabditis elegans and a mouse model. This is the first report of the differential effects of alkyl gallates on QS systems and PG has great potential as an inhibitor of the virulence and biofilm formation of P. aeruginosa.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology
  • Bacterial Proteins / metabolism
  • Biofilms / drug effects
  • Caenorhabditis elegans / metabolism
  • Caenorhabditis elegans / microbiology
  • Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial / drug effects
  • Female
  • Gallic Acid / analogs & derivatives
  • Gallic Acid / pharmacology*
  • Glycolipids / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C / microbiology
  • Pancreatic Elastase / metabolism
  • Propyl Gallate
  • Pseudomonas aeruginosa / drug effects*
  • Pseudomonas aeruginosa / metabolism
  • Pyocyanine / metabolism
  • Quorum Sensing / drug effects*
  • Quorum Sensing / physiology
  • Virulence / drug effects
  • Virulence Factors / genetics

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Glycolipids
  • Virulence Factors
  • rhamnolipid
  • octyl gallate
  • Gallic Acid
  • Propyl Gallate
  • Pyocyanine
  • Pancreatic Elastase