Targeting Acyl Homoserine Lactone (AHL) of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Responsible for Biofilm Formation using Plant Metabolites

Abstract

AHL (acyl homoserine lactone) is a signaling molecule responsible for communication in gram negative bacteria, which is liable for bacterial virulence as well as biofilm formation. This study aims in targeting the AHL formation and AHL mediated virulence factor using plant extracts / plant metabolites. AHL plays a major role in pigment production, motility and rhamnolipid production in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Inhibition of these mechanism by any mean implies that it is having impact in biofilm formation too. Plant derived metabolites/ extracts were subjected for swarming motility assay, the metabolite which inhibited the swarming motility was subjected for further study, where P. aeruginosa SU-3 was allowed to grow in the presence of the metabolite and its impact over the AHL production, pigment production and rhamnolipid production was evaluated. Curcumin was found to be effective against all the metabolites used. Thus curcumin subjected for molecular docking against ENR (enoyl carrier protein reductase), the enzyme involves in fatty acid synthesis and production of AHL.

Keywords

• pseudomonas aeruginosa su-3
• acyl homoserine lactone (ahl)
• rhamnolipid
• pyocyanin pigment
• enoyl reductase
• molecular docking