PeerJ (Feb 2024)

In silico and in vitro evaluation of the anti-virulence potential of patuletin, a natural methoxy flavone, against Pseudomonas aeruginosa

  • Ahmed Metwaly,
  • Moustafa M. Saleh,
  • Aisha Alsfouk,
  • Ibrahim M. Ibrahim,
  • Muhamad Abd-Elraouf,
  • Eslam Elkaeed,
  • Hazem Elkady,
  • Ibrahim Eissa

DOI
https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.16826
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 12
p. e16826

Abstract

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This study aimed to investigate the potential of patuletin, a rare natural flavonoid, as a virulence and LasR inhibitor against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Various computational studies were utilized to explore the binding of Patuletin and LasR at a molecular level. Molecular docking revealed that Patuletin strongly interacted with the active pocket of LasR, with a high binding affinity value of −20.96 kcal/mol. Further molecular dynamics simulations, molecular mechanics generalized Born surface area (MM/GBSA), protein-ligand interaction profile (PLIP), and essential dynamics analyses confirmed the stability of the patuletin-LasR complex, and no significant structural changes were observed in the LasR protein upon binding. Key amino acids involved in binding were identified, along with a free energy value of −26.9 kcal/mol. In vitro assays were performed to assess patuletin’s effects on P. aeruginosa. At a sub-inhibitory concentration (1/4 MIC), patuletin significantly reduced biofilm formation by 48% and 42%, decreased pyocyanin production by 24% and 14%, and decreased proteolytic activities by 42% and 20% in P. aeruginosa isolate ATCC 27853 (PA27853) and P. aeruginosa clinical isolate (PA1), respectively. In summary, this study demonstrated that patuletin effectively inhibited LasR activity in silico and attenuated virulence factors in vitro, including biofilm formation, pyocyanin production, and proteolytic activity. These findings suggest that patuletin holds promise as a potential therapeutic agent in combination with antibiotics to combat antibiotic-tolerant P. aeruginosa infections.

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