Correlation of quorum sensing and virulence factors in Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates in Egypt

Hamida M. Aboushleib; Hoda M. Omar; Rania Abozahra; Amel Elsheredy; Kholoud Baraka

doi:10.3855/jidc.6492

Correlation of quorum sensing and virulence factors in Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates in Egypt

Authors

Hamida M. Aboushleib Faculty of Pharmacy, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt
Hoda M. Omar Faculty of Pharmacy, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt
Rania Abozahra Faculty of Pharmacy, Damanhour University, Damanhour, Egypt
Amel Elsheredy Medical Research Institute, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt
Kholoud Baraka Faculty of Pharmacy, Damanhour University, Damanhour, Egypt

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3855/jidc.6492

Keywords:

quorum sensing, virulence, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, genes, biofilm

Abstract

Introduction: Pseudomonas aeruginosa is one of the most virulent nosocomial pathogens worldwide. Quorum sensing (QS) regulates the production of pathogenic virulence factors and biofilm formation in P. aeruginosa. The four genes lasR, lasI, rhlR,and rhlI were found to regulate this QS system. In this study, we aimed to assess the correlation between these four genes and QS-dependent virulence factors and to detect the inhibitory effect of clove oil on QS.

Methodology: Fifty P. aeruginosa clinical isolates were collected. Susceptibility to different antibiotics was tested. Virulence factors including biofilm formation, pyocyanin production, and twitching motility were phenotypically detected. QS genes were amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and one strain subsequently underwent sequencing. The inhibitory effect of clove oil on virulence factors was also tested.

Results: A positive correlation was found between biofilm formation and the presence of lasR and rhlI genes. Twitching motility was positively correlated with the presence of lasR, lasI, and rhlI genes. On the other hand, no correlation was found between pyocyanin production and any of the studied genes. Only one isolate amplified all the tested QS gene primers, but it did not express any of the tested virulence factors phenotypically. Sequence analyses of this isolate showed that the four genes had point mutations.

Conclusions: Results emphasize the importance of QS in P. aeruginosa virulence; however, QS-deficient clinical isolates occur and are still capable of causing clinical infections in humans. Also, clove oil has an obvious inhibitory effect on QS, which should be clinically exploited.

Author Biographies

Hamida M. Aboushleib, Faculty of Pharmacy, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt

Professor in the Pharmaceutical Microbiology Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Alexandria University.

Hoda M. Omar, Faculty of Pharmacy, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt

Assistant Professor in the Pharmaceutical Microbiology Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Alexandria University.

Rania Abozahra, Faculty of Pharmacy, Damanhour University, Damanhour, Egypt

Lecturer in the Pharmaceutical Microbiology Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Damanhour University.

Amel Elsheredy, Medical Research Institute, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt

Lecturer in Microbiology department, Medical Research Institute, Alexandria University

Kholoud Baraka, Faculty of Pharmacy, Damanhour University, Damanhour, Egypt

Assistant Lecturer in the Pharmaceutical Microbiology Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Damanhour University.

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Published

2015-10-29

How to Cite

Aboushleib HM, Omar HM, Abozahra R, Elsheredy A, Baraka K (2015) Correlation of quorum sensing and virulence factors in Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates in Egypt. J Infect Dev Ctries 9:1091–1099. doi: 10.3855/jidc.6492

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Issue

Vol. 9 No. 10: October 2015

Section

Original Articles

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