prodigiosin and Cross-Infection

Serratia marcescens is an emerging opportunistic bacterium that can cause healthcare-associated infections. The high rate of multidrug resistance and the ability to produce a set of virulence factors, by which it can produce infectious diseases makes it urgent to find an alternative approach to the treatment of such infections. Disarming of virulence by targeting of quorum sensing (QS) as the regulating mechanism of virulence is a promising approach that has no effect on bacterial growth that is considered a key factor in emergence of resistance. This study was designed to investigate the ability of sub-inhibitory concentrations (sub-MICs) of sotolon to attenuate virulence of a clinical isolate of S. marcescens. Sotolon at 25 and 50 μg/ml inhibited 35.2 and 47.5% of biofilm formation, respectively. The inhibition of swimming motility were 41.4 and 69.3%, while that of swarming motility were 77.6 and 86.8% at 25 and 50 µg/ml, respectively. Moreover, sotolon reduced prodigiosin production by 76.6 and 87.6% at concentrations of 25 and 50 µg/ml, respectively. Protease activity was reduced by 25 µg/ml of sotolon by 54.8% and was completely blocked at 50 µg/ml. The relative expression of genes regulating virulence factors decreased by 40% for fimA, 29% for fimC, 59% for flhC, 57% for flhD, 39% for bsmB, 37% for rssB, 49% for rsmA, 54% for pigP, and 62% for shlA gene in the presence of 50 µg/ml sotolon. In conclusion, sotolon is an anti-virulence agent that could be used for the treatment of S.marcescens hospital-acquired infections.

Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Biofilms; Cross Infection; Enzyme Activation; Furans; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; Humans; Peptide Hydrolases; Prodigiosin; Quorum Sensing; Serratia Infections; Serratia marcescens; Virulence Factors

Piper betle, a tropical creeper plant belongs to the family Piperaceae. The leaves of this plant have been well known for their therapeutic, religious and ceremonial value in South and Southeast Asia. It has also been reported to possess several biological activities including antimicrobial, antioxidant, antinociceptive, antidiabetic, insecticidal and gastroprotective activities and used as a common ingredient in indigenous medicines. In Indian system of ayurvedic medicine, P. betle has been well recognized for its antiseptic properties and is commonly applied on wounds and lesions for its healing effects.. To evaluate the anti-quorum sensing (anti-QS) and antibiofilm efficacy of P. betle and its bioactive metabolite phytol against Serratia marcescens.. The P. betle ethyl acetate extract (PBE) was evaluated for its anti-QS efficacy against S. marcescens by assessing the prodigiosin and lipase production at 400 and 500µgml. PBE inhibits QS mediated prodigiosin pigment production in S. marcescens, which confirmed its anti-QS potential against S. marcescens. At 500µgml. This study demonstrates the promising anti-QS and antibiofilm activities of PBE and its active metabolite phytol, and confirms the ethnopharmacological applications of these leaves against S. marcescens infections.

Topics: Biofilms; Biomass; Cross Infection; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Humans; Microscopy, Confocal; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; Phytol; Piper betle; Plant Leaves; Prodigiosin; Quorum Sensing; Serratia marcescens; Virulence

Prodigiozan was tested in complex therapy of children with acute dysentery. Comparison of clinical symptoms, specific immunogenesis and child sanation periods from Shigella in the child groups treated (80) and non-treated (74) with prodigiozan showed that prodigiozan lowered the rate of intrahospital acute respiratory virus infection, provided more favourable dysentery progression, more tensed specific immunity and the patient clearance from Shigella.

Topics: Acute Disease; Antibody Formation; Child, Preschool; Cross Infection; Dysentery, Bacillary; Humans; Infant; Prodigiosin; Respiratory Tract Infections; Shigella flexneri; Shigella sonnei; Virus Diseases